1998 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Stylistic Studies on the Wall Paintings of the Ajanta Caves
| Project/Area Number |
08610063
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Fine art history
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| Research Institution | Kyoto City University of Arts |
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Principal Investigator |
SADAKANE Keiji Kyoto City University of Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Associate Professor, 美術学部, 助教授 (40135497)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1996 – 1998
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| Keywords | India / Ancient Times / Wall Paintings / Buddhism / Cave Temples / Narrative Paintings |
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| Research Abstract |
The wall paintings in the Ajanta Caves can be classified into the early and the later ones in respect of their execution times. It has become clear that the former were executed in the middle of the 1st century A.D.under the rule of the Satavahana Dynasty, on the basis of comparison of various forms between them and relief sculptures. They show rather mature styles and techniques notwithstanding their early execution.
The latter have large variety of styles, ranging from the classical to the mediaeval one. While it is certain that they began to be produced after the middle of the 5th century A.D., it is debatable how long they continued to be executed. An American scholar has zealously proposed a erratic short chronology of later wall paintings at Ajanta. and some others have stupidly accepted it. But it is undoubtedly wrong because their styles are too diverse to have been executed in a short period.
As a result of the deliberate stylistic research, we have reached the conclusion that most of the Ajanta later wall paintings were produced until the middle of the 6th century A.D.at the latest, first under the Vakatakas and next under a local ruler of Asmaka. Some other peculiar murals depicting Buddha or stupa figures were probably appended to original ones for the sake of earning religious merits intermittently by the first half of 7th century A.D.under the Kalacuris.
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