Feminization of Statues in Longmen Grottoes during the Northern Wei Dynasty and its Causes

A striking trend of feminization in statues at the Longmen Grottoes during the Northern Wei Dynasty (493–528 CE) is linked to the political influence of Empress Dowager Hu. This study reveals that female-centered sculptural features—such as donor figures, worshipping scenes, and Bodhisattva representations—emerged prominently in the grottoes, coinciding with her heightened power and a surge in temple construction. Comparative analysis with statues from the Yungang Grottoes and artifacts from the Yongning Temple Pagoda underscores how these artistic shifts reflected broader societal and political dynamics of the era.

Zheng, X. (2023). Feminization of Statues in Longmen Grottoes during the Northern Wei Dynasty and its Causes. Art Frontier, 1(3, 4), 131–145. https://doi.org/10.64212/qldd7688