statue

“Over 1,000 Ancient Buddha Statues Uncovered in China”

by April Holloway via “Epoch Times“

“Archaeologists have discovered more than 1,000 ancient Buddha statues in three stone caves on a cliff-face in Yangqu County, in north China’s Shanxi Province, according to a report in China.org.cn. Although official dating has not yet been carried out, it is believed that the statues date back to the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming dynasty, was the ruling dynasty of China for 276 years (1368–1644 AD) following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming, described by some as “one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history”, was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese. The creation of stone Buddha statues reached its peak during the period from the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), so it is rare to find stone Buddha statues from the Ming Dynasty.

According to traditional accounts, Buddhism was introduced in China during the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) after an emperor dreamed of a flying golden man thought to be the Buddha. Although the archaeological record confirms that Buddhism was introduced sometime during the Han dynasty, it did not flourish in China until the Six Dynasties period (220-589 AD). The year 67 CE saw Buddhism’s official introduction to China with the coming of the two monks Moton and Chufarlan.

The latest finding including stone statues carved into the cave walls and measuring 12 to 25 centimetres long, said Yang Jifu, director of the county’s cultural heritage tourism bureau. Yang said two of the caves had been restored in the Ming Dynasty, according to the record on two steles in the caves. . . . .”

Statue of Maya and Merit

Egyptian Statue of Maya and Merit Currently on display at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities

Soviet Rapist Sculpture Taken Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cDMk6cQYV4

“Russia Condemns Polish Artist Over Statue of Soviet Soldier Raping a Woman”

via “The Moscow Times”

“The Russian ambassador to Poland has denounced as blasphemous “pseudo-art” a statue depicting a Soviet soldier raping a pregnant woman, which briefly appeared in Gdansk over the weekend.

The offending work of art, entitled “Komm Frau,” German for “Come Here Woman,” had been installed on Gdansk’s Avenue of Victory on Saturday. Polish authorities removed the statue on Sunday, saying that it had been put there illegally, while Szumczyk was brought in for questioning by . . . . “ Read the rest of the article here.

Jerzy Szumczyk, a twenty-six year old student of the arts, was in the process of researching the Russian Army’s march into Germany when he was struck by what he had been studying. His studies led him to WWII and Gdansk’s German population (making up nearly 95% of the city in the 1940s) during WWII as Russia moved through Poland on its way to Germany (2). The army worked (more…)