World Heritage Quanzhou Site: Laojunyan Statue

Quanzhou has two great heritages, because they are related to the two greatest thinkers in ancient China. One is a large stone carving of Laozi, the founder of Taoism; The second is the sacrificial architecture of Confucius, the founder of Confucianism. Laojunyan statue is located at the southern foot of Qingyuan Mountain, 3 kilometers north of Quanzhou.

Laojunyan statue is a representative heritage element reflecting the diversified community of the World Ocean Trade Center. Laojun Rock Statue is the stone statue of Laozi, the founder of Taoism, and the largest existing Taoist stone statue in China. This huge stone statue is a symbol of Quanzhou's official mainstream ideology in the Song Dynasty, which is guaranteed by rich social wealth. It reflects the unique historical context of Quanzhou Port relying on the agricultural empire, and also reflects the diverse and active cultural characteristics of the world marine trade center and the prosperity of the port. ?

Laojunyan statue

The position of Confucianism and Taoism in China and the world.

The theories of Confucianism and Taoism, founded in the 6th century BC, have shaped the world outlook, outlook on life and social culture of the Chinese nation. As the official mainstream culture of China, Taoism and Confucianism have been enduring for more than two thousand years. Confucianism regards The Analects of Confucius as a classic, which is more important? A gift? Paying attention to enlightenment is a humanism of ethical enlightenment. Taoism regards Tao Te Ching as a classic, which is more important? Tao? Advocate nature and return to nature. Together, they constitute China people's outlook on life and social culture, which is the core philosophy of China. ?

Plato and Aristotle came into being in ancient Greece, Sakyamuni came into being in ancient India, and Laozi, Confucius and a hundred schools appeared in China. The reason why these countries are called ancient civilizations in the world is inseparable from these far-reaching ideological giants. ?

/kloc-more than 0/000 years ago, Laozi was circulated in East Asian countries. More than 400 years ago, Laozi was translated into a foreign language and spread in Europe, which had a far-reaching impact on the cultural development of China and even East Asia. ?

10-13rd century is the mature period of China culture. The establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty ended the long-term chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, but in 10? In the 300-year history of the13rd century, threatened and impacted by the northern frontier nationalities, the traditional culture was highly praised by the Song Dynasty. The emperor of Song Dynasty inherited the compatibility of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism, but worshipped the policy of supporting Taoism, built a large number of Taoist temples, reused Taoist priests, edited Taoist books and pursued a large number of Taoist immortals. The statue of Laojunyan was produced under the background of the official attention of the Song Dynasty government. ?

/kloc-In the 3rd century, Quanzhou Port developed into the largest foreign trade port in China. Quanzhou Port has become the most important window for China's foreign exchange, representing the national image and symbol. Therefore, Taoism and Confucianism, as local cultures in China, are still the mainstream cultures in Quanzhou, where there are many cultures. On the one hand, local officials respected Taoism, presided over the construction of temples (such as carving the statue of Laojunyan), or participated in praying for the wind and offering sacrifices to the sea at Zhenwu Temple in Jiuri Mountain. Jiuri Mountain worships the wind and Zhenwu Temple worships the sea, which is the result of Quanzhou magistrate and city shipping company officials using Taoist religious activities to promote the prosperity of Quanzhou port in Song Dynasty. With the rapid economic and social development of Quanzhou, an ancient seaport city, the Taoist culture of China has also developed and spread to East Asia and the world with the development of maritime trade. ?

This endless mountain is the mother mountain of Quanzhou? The statues of Qingyuan Mountain and Laojunyan are located at the south foot of the west peak of Qingyuan Mountain, overlooking Quanzhou City and Jinjiang to the south. ?

Qingyuan Mountain is a mountain range distributed in Quanzhou Bay and the northern part of Quanzhou Plain. The southeast extends to the mouth of Jinjiang River, and the northwest is connected with the mountains in the hinterland, like a huge barrier, guarding Quanzhou City. The mountainous terrain is undulating and the vegetation layer is rich, with an altitude of 498 meters. ?

Most of the trees planted along the way are local banyan trees and longan trees. The ancient banyan tree, with scattered branches and leaves, deep roots and drooping banyan whiskers, symbolizes the long history of Taoist culture and its wide spread and far-reaching influence in China and even the world. ?

Confucius asked Lao Tzu about the statue.

This is a legend about Laozi and Confucius getting together to discuss Tao. Laozi is 20 years older than Confucius. According to historical records, in the 6th century BC, Confucius asked Laozi and praised the profoundness of Laozi's philosophical thought, which was deeply inspired. Later, he became the founder of Confucianism. His philosophical thoughts, together with Taoist thoughts founded by Laozi, are called the mainstream culture of China, which still affects our outlook on life, world outlook and lifestyle.

Laojunyan statue is a natural boulder sculpture, which is rare in the world. It sits facing south, standing upright, facing the ancient city, facing the empty mountains and valleys, and integrating with nature. The elephant is 5.63 meters high, 8.0 1 m thick and 6.85 meters wide, and its posture is slightly inclined and naturally relaxed. Advocate nature? The thought of is reflected incisively and vividly.

The aesthetics of statue location, natural boulder, relaxed sitting posture and natural beauty can all be found in Tao Te Ching. Like what? Some things are mixed? Taoism is natural? It provides an aesthetic basis for the statue of Laojun to choose a natural boulder that exists independently in the mountains and carve it naturally. ?

Dating textual research

(1) history. According to Min Shu17th century: Feather fairy rock is under Luoshan and Wushan. In the Song Dynasty, there was the Beidou Hall under Luoshan and the Zhenjun Hall under Wushan. Zhu Wengong once swam, and now he is called Laojunyan. ? Zhu Wengong is the famous philosopher Zhu in the Southern Song Dynasty (1 130- 1200). It can be seen that the statue of Laojunyan existed before 12 century.

(2) Archaeological basis. According to the stone building elements unearthed around Laojunyan, such as bucket boots, bucket boots, curtain fragments, and coupon arch stone, they are shared with the East West Pagoda and Liu Shengta of Kaiyuan Temple, a stone pagoda in the Southern Song Dynasty in Quanzhou, which indirectly proves that Laojunyan stone statue is a relic of the Song Dynasty.

Aesthetic Evidence in Song Dynasty

According to19th century "Quanzhou fuzhi": Stone statues are natural, and good people carve them a little. ? The statue of Laojunyan embodies Taoism in the Song Dynasty. Equipment? , heavy meaning light? Words? ,? Let nature take its course And then what? The road to Jane? Aesthetic thought, fit? There is great beauty in heaven and earth without saying anything? Aesthetic concept. ?

statue

The statue is bald, with clear forehead lines, deep eyes, high nose and protruding eyes, drooping ears and flying shoulders, showing the exaggeration of the head, forehead, eyes and moustache without losing its meaning, and highlighting its ingenuity in simplicity; The old gentleman sat on the floor in a robe, with simple pleats, which reflected the simplicity and elegance of the Song Dynasty. The carving techniques of facial features and clothing lines are simple, which embodies? The road to Jane? Aesthetics, which can be found in Tao Te Ching. ?

What is Tao Te Ching? Great voices are heard, elephants are invisible, and the Tao is hidden and nameless. ? So-called? Elephants are invisible? If the sound is silent, if the elephant is invisible. The most beautiful music, the most beautiful image has reached the realm of integration with nature, reflecting? The road to Jane? Aesthetic concept. ?

Lao Tzu leans against a few curved bars, and his legs are plate-shaped three-legged legs with wide upper part and narrow lower part. What are legs and feet? Tiger feet? The leg plates are engraved with moire patterns with obvious concavities and convexities and complicated composition. The characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty are more prominent: First, in terms of modeling, the furniture of the Yuan Dynasty likes to use curved modeling. There is a split leg shape, with short legs connected to high legs. Yuan people changed the short legs popular on the grassland into high legs for settlement in the Central Plains. At the same time, they are still detachable and easy to carry. But many tables or tables in later generations have become a kind of legs. One by one? Style. Second, decoration: animals' bent legs and feet began to be used in the Yuan Dynasty, commonly known as? Tiger feet? Application of moire in thigh structure decoration. All ethnic groups on the grassland have devoted infinite thoughts to the ever-changing blue sky and white clouds, creating various moiré patterns. Thirdly, in terms of craftsmanship, the carving composition on the furniture in Yuan Dynasty is full, vivid and vivid, and the knife work is powerful, giving people a sense of movement and strength. It can be seen that this stone was placed in14th century after the statue was completed before12nd century. ?

The Cultural Connotation of Laojunyan Statue

The shape of hiding eyes and covering ears has far-reaching influence, which can be found in Tao Te Ching. ?

The first sentence:? Colorless makes people blind, and five tones make people deaf? . Interpretation: Colorful colors make people see things in a blur; The noisy tone is inaudible. Laozi's view on aesthetic realm reveals an aesthetic experience that transcends the simple perception of art in aesthetic activities and initiates the pursuit of ancient aesthetics in China? Natural? 、? Isn't it beautiful? 、? Meaning? And so on, also laid the foundation for the confrontation between Taoist aesthetics and Confucian aesthetics. ?

The second sentence:? Be empty, be quiet, do everything together, and I will turn back. ? Interpretation: strive to make the mind reach a virtual state of peace, and firmly maintain this peace. Everything is growing vigorously, and I have observed the law of circulation. Lao Tzu particularly emphasized the kung fu of keeping silent. The thought of inaction advocated by him, to a certain extent, liberated the shackles of the traditional thought of attaching importance to agriculture and restraining commerce, played a positive catalytic role in the exchange of business ideas in Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and objectively promoted Quanzhou's acceptance of commercial behavior and maritime trade.