Manufacturing technology of Zizhu Guanyin

Judging from the carving process, the design of this statue is very strange. Skillful craftsmen boldly break through the shackles of religious ceremonies, make full use of the terrain and mountains, and use the principles of mechanics, optics and vision to carve on the cliff. The body is not fully embossed, and the right arm, lotus leaf, lotus flower, five fingers and towel belt are all carved by hollowing out. A lot of space is carved between the lotus platform and the lotus core, which is connected by a shawl with shoulders, reducing the weight of the boulder and giving people a harmonious aesthetic feeling. Her modeling image is vivid and interesting, her carving is exquisite, her knife work is skillful and ingenious. She not only embodies the world outlook and religious art of the Buddha, but also reflects the social reality and secular culture at that time. What is more different from other sculptures is that she is completely carved on red sand, while statues in other places, such as the Mogao Grottoes, are mostly made of wood, grass or stones, supplemented by mud tires. But even a strand of hair and a flower pendant of Zizhu Guanyin are carved from rocks. Its carving skill is high and its production is difficult. In carving, there is a kind of fear of "missing a hand will make a lasting regret". Looking at and patting the precious heritage of China Grottoes carving art-Zizhu Guanyin, we have to be impressed by the superb skills of the carving masters in the Song Dynasty.

What is particularly amazing is the image of Purple Bamboo Guanyin sitting sideways with his right foot tilted, which breaks through the religious rituals of Buddha statues, and also breaks through the modeling certainty of Guanyin sitting on a lotus platform with thousands of hands and thousands of eyes or crossing the sea with bottles, and achieves the unity of aesthetics and mechanics in a dynamic form. Coupled with the emphasis on natural lighting, you can get roughly the same aesthetic effect from any angle. This is a rare artistic treasure at home and abroad, and we are really excited by this warm and intimate beauty of the East. With the constant "click" sound, the beautiful photos of various angles and compositions are fixed on the film one by one.

Sadly, however, the right palm of this grotto carving art treasure with unique national style was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, and it is unnatural to make up for it. The ribbon from the corolla to the right shoulder was damaged by thieves, and the back neck was sawed several inches deep by thieves. In order to guard against theft, the management department had to install an iron cage in front of Kannonji. Seeing Guanyin sitting in an iron cage for thousands of years, most of us photographers don't like it. However, I still want to say to all my friends warmly: the Purple Bamboo Guanyin in our hometown is indispensable for tourists, art lovers, photographers and men who believe in women!