In Hindu and Buddhistic culture, Apsaras are young ladies, half human, halv devine, living in the palace of the God Indra. As celestial nymphs, they are youthful, elegant and beautiful and excel in the arts of dancing and music. According to scriptures, they are often standing or flying in the air in graceful poses playing musical instruments, or scattering flowers to give praise to the gods.
In the ancient silk road sculpture and paintings they frequently appear.
Figure 1 Two Apsaras (reproduction)
This is the "Flying Apsaras" painting from Mogao caves at the Chinese part of the ancient silk road. Two Apsaras flying in sky and throwing flowers. Their silk long water sleeves make them seem very elegant.
Figure 2 Four Apsaras (Mogao caves 320)
These apsaras are shown above the parasol of the central Buddha in two groups. Two of them flank the parasol symmetrically, each with one hand scattering flowers and the other waving to others. The other two symmetrically placed apsaras follow them in the same gesture. The whole dynamic scene of apsaras and floating clouds, together with the sparkling colors, depicts the wonderful world of the WesternPureLand. It is representative of the Tang Dynasty apsaras in the Mogao caves.
Figure 3 Illustration of the Aparimitayus Sutra (Mogao cave 172 in the silk road)
This large-size and delicate illustration of the pure land, a celestial pure abode of the Buddha, occupies a whole wall. The heavenly palaces are grand and spectacular. In the center is the preaching scene of Amitabha and on two sides are assemblies of pious bodhisattvas and celestial beings listening to the preaching. All thee figures are delicately depicted, vivid and lively. Musical instruments in the sky play music with no need for musicians. Apsaras scatter flowers in the sky. And below the preaching scene is a lotus pond with green ripples in which birds swim and incarnated boys play in the lotuses.
This is a painting from a cave's truncated pyramidal ceiling. Four apsaras flying around a circle.
While apsaras were a popular decoration in ancient times, today not many illustrations are fabricated. However, in early 2014, the silk scarf brand MISS CRIMSON has adopted the apsara theme of the ceiling picture shown above in a series of top-grade silk scarves. The Golden color edging, apsaras's symbols and Eastern traditional emerald green color make for a rebirth of ancient silk road's art painting in the tradition of the great art achievements of the Tang Dynasty
.
In the ancient silk road sculpture and paintings they frequently appear.
Figure 1 Two Apsaras (reproduction)
This is the "Flying Apsaras" painting from Mogao caves at the Chinese part of the ancient silk road. Two Apsaras flying in sky and throwing flowers. Their silk long water sleeves make them seem very elegant.
Figure 2 Four Apsaras (Mogao caves 320)
These apsaras are shown above the parasol of the central Buddha in two groups. Two of them flank the parasol symmetrically, each with one hand scattering flowers and the other waving to others. The other two symmetrically placed apsaras follow them in the same gesture. The whole dynamic scene of apsaras and floating clouds, together with the sparkling colors, depicts the wonderful world of the WesternPureLand. It is representative of the Tang Dynasty apsaras in the Mogao caves.
Figure 3 Illustration of the Aparimitayus Sutra (Mogao cave 172 in the silk road)
This large-size and delicate illustration of the pure land, a celestial pure abode of the Buddha, occupies a whole wall. The heavenly palaces are grand and spectacular. In the center is the preaching scene of Amitabha and on two sides are assemblies of pious bodhisattvas and celestial beings listening to the preaching. All thee figures are delicately depicted, vivid and lively. Musical instruments in the sky play music with no need for musicians. Apsaras scatter flowers in the sky. And below the preaching scene is a lotus pond with green ripples in which birds swim and incarnated boys play in the lotuses.
This is a painting from a cave's truncated pyramidal ceiling. Four apsaras flying around a circle.
While apsaras were a popular decoration in ancient times, today not many illustrations are fabricated. However, in early 2014, the silk scarf brand MISS CRIMSON has adopted the apsara theme of the ceiling picture shown above in a series of top-grade silk scarves. The Golden color edging, apsaras's symbols and Eastern traditional emerald green color make for a rebirth of ancient silk road's art painting in the tradition of the great art achievements of the Tang Dynasty
.
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