佛像网

尺寸：高 160 公分
年代：唐代 7世纪
质地：石灰岩石雕
风格：中原
来源：慈山寺艺术博物馆
参阅：外部链接
鉴赏：
此件初唐观音菩萨立像源自龙门石窟，龙门石窟位于洛阳伊水东西两崖的峭壁之间，约开创于北魏（386-534）晚期，现存约两千余窟，以北魏晚期和唐代贞观六年（632）至天宝十四年（755）是石窟雕凿最为兴盛的两个时期。

此件观音菩萨立像原属于第1038号窟赵客师洞，洞窟形制为穹庐顶，马蹄形平面，主龛为五尊式大像，南北两壁均开龛造像。该窟是北魏晚期所开凿的窟洞，因故中辍，后来初唐时期继续在原有基础上开龛，洞中犹存有唐高宗永淳二年（683）之〈魏简公卢公妻李氏造弥勒像记〉，亦为此窟的断年提供有力证据。

观音菩萨右手持净瓶，左手拿莲花于胸前，发梳高髻，头戴花冠，脸型长圆，两颊丰腴柔软，眉毛以弧形阴线刻划，两眼下视，可见眼内瞳仁，鼻梁略宽，两翼饱满，嘴部雕琢细腻，双唇略张，似欲言语，神情喜乐慈祥。

菩萨的身躯仍略显清瘦，两肩削圆，胸口平实，胸前挂有项链，身披天衣和璎珞，璎珞于腹部交叉成X形，复于两膝处向身后环绕下身。穿着长裙，裙带系扎于腰际，裙头反折，天衣和璎珞层叠的关系交待清楚。

此作无论是在神情的塑造，或是身躯比例，服饰的雕凿上，都相当出色，亦可看到工匠熟练的使用不同的线性弧脊来呈现布料翻动的感觉，堪称是初唐时期的精品杰作。

This standing Guanyin of the early Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) originally belonged to Longmen Caves carved into the rock face between the east and west cliffs of the Yi River in Luoyang, first constructed in the late Northern Wei dynasty (386-534 CE). Around 2,000 caves survive to this day. The late Northern Wei dynasty and the century between the 6th year of the Zhenguan reign (632 CE) and the 14th year of the Tianbao reign (755 CE) were the two most prosperous periods of cave construction.

This Guanyin statue was originally standing inside Zhao Keshi Cave (Cave 1038), a cave with a dome ceiling and a horseshoe-shaped plan. The principal niche has five large statues. More niches and statues are also cut out from the north and south walls. The hewing of this cave began in the late Northern Wei dynasty but was soon interrupted for some reasons. Construction resumed on the former basis during the early Tang dynasty and niches were cut out. The dating of the cave is shown by the votive inscription commemorating the making of a Maitreya statue by several devotees (names incomplete), engraved in the 2nd year of the Yongchun reign (683 CE) of the Emperor Gaozong of the Tang dynasty.

This Guanyin statue has a purifying bottle in the right hand and a lotus held in the left hand, in front of the chest. The Bodhisattva has a tall topknot behind a crown with floral design, an elongated oval face with soft plump cheeks, crescent eyebrows delineated with incised lines, downcast eyes with pupils, a nose with relatively broad bridge and rounded nostrils, a delicately modelled mouth with gently parted lips as if about to speak, and a countenance expressing joy and kindliness.

He also has a rather slender build, sloping round shoulders, a necklace over the flat solid chest, streamers around the shoulders and a criss-crossed long necklace anchored in front of the belly forming an X-shape before dropping further down to the knees and then turning to the back of the body. The lower body is wrapped in a long skirt held in place by a girdle, while the upper hem falls around the waist. The layering of the shawl and the strung jewellery are well represented.

This statue is noted for the remarkable modelling of its facial expression, the good proportion of the body and the exquisite carving of its clothes and accessories. The carver has also skilfully used different arched ridges to render the expressions of the folds. The statue is a masterpiece of sculptural art of the early Tang dynasty.