Is Tiangong music used to entertain Buddha? Dunhuang art has lasted for thousands of years, and it has also accompanied the development of ancient Chinese music and art. There are many elements of music and dance in classic Dunhuang art works. Peace, harmony, and joy are synonymous with them, and the beautiful display of the Pure Land also depends on it. Due to the different backgrounds of the times, the development of music and dance elements has also become a microcosm of the times, so the development of music and dance in the Tang Dynasty was particularly prosperous. During the Tang Dynasty, there were singing and dancing performances in Dunhuang, where Bodhisattvas performed, danced and danced to entertain the Buddha.
This work was modified and copied by experts from the Dunhuang Academy of Fine Arts. There are many Buddhist paintings in the Tang Dynasty, often showing images of music and dance. Although it reflects the festive scene of the Buddhist country, it actually reflects the highly developed state of Chinese music and dance in the Tang Dynasty. It is speculated that the dance in the picture is the famous Hu Xuan Dance of the Tang Dynasty. Hu Xuan Dance is a kind of folk dance in the Western Regions. It is a spinning dance in the Western Regions. It originated from the Silk Road and was one of the most popular dances in the Tang Dynasty. Hu Xuan dance has a brisk rhythm, galloping and joyful, with many rotations and pedaling, hence the name Hu Xuan.
The accompaniment music is mainly percussion, echoing its fast pace and vigorous style. In the picture, two people stand on one foot on a mat and spin and dance, with their costumes fluttering, which shows the popularity of dance at that time and the exquisite skills of the dancers. In the picture above, two bodhisattvas stand on a lotus, each holding an incense burner. The head of the Bodhisattva above is covered by a translucent green round light, and the Bodhisattva below looks kindly at the dancer in the middle. Experts from the Dunhuang Academy of Fine Arts modified and copied part of the work "Wulatu·Early Tang Dynasty".
This image shows a band to the left and right of a dance music image. Each member of the band plays an instrument and there are round lights of different colors above their heads. The band is mainly composed of string instruments, wind instruments and percussion instruments. In the painting, two Bodhisattvas stand on a lotus with a high bun on their head, holding incense burners in their hands, and a translucent round lamp above their heads. The Bodhisattva at the bottom is holding a shell-shaped container and worshiping devoutly. The sound of the pipa strings seems to be still in my ears, and the spinning dance seems to be still in front of me. Watch Dunhuang singing and dancing, appreciate the Tang Dynasty, and see the colorful world. Dunhuang Lingyan Pure Land, Buddha's Pure Land, and exquisite craftsmanship are all reflected in the paintings.