The Origin of Chinese Gilding Techniques and Its Influence on Buddha's Golden Body in Gandhara Art

Abstract

It is a general misconception that Chinese gilding technique were far earlier than other countries, and Chinese gilded Buddha statues were influenced by Gandhara art. The birthplace of Gandhara art, which was originally a place where East and West met, it would have no qualms about absorbing any excellent art or advanced technology, which is a characteristic of Gandhara art, otherwise how could it has been influenced by Greek sculpture. Then, as the country where gilding technology was invented and matured, since it could gild all kinds of objects it liked, it would also habitually gild on top of the worshiped Buddha statues. The use of gilding technology on Buddha statues was not necessarily influenced by Buddhist doctrine or the stories of Buddhist scriptures, but most likely the use of gilding process in Buddhist statues influenced the description of Buddha's looks in Buddhist scriptures. In the Gandhara region compared to the Chinese hinterland, it is more likely that China first used the gilding process applied to the gilt bronze Buddha statues. Furthermore, not a single gilt statue of the Buddha is seen in the early days of Madhura art, the birthplace of Buddhism a little further away from the northwestern Silk Road, but instead gilt statues of the Buddha have been unearthed in Pakistan, near the front end of the Chinese Silk Road. This section attempts to find enough evidence in historical materials and artifacts to prove the origin of Chinese gilded art, how it was travelled and its influence on gandhara art. Both finally and secondly sources are used to make a logical statement of Buddha decoration and Gandhara Art.

Keywords:  Gandhara Art  Gilding Techniques  Early Buddha Statues  Gilding Techniques Spread