The origin and story of flying

2026-01-16 22:29

The word "Flying Heavens" was first seen in the "Luoyang Temple Record". Its meaning can be explained as "flying celestial beings". In the early days, except for some flying monks, most of them were female images, mainly in the form of murals. The flying images of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang were the most typical, and were also distributed in many places such as the Grottoes of Maiji Mountain and Bingling Temple. From a historical point of view, since the second year of Yongping of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 59), Buddhism was introduced to China through the Western Regions. The image of Flying Apsaras flew over the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan and other dynasties. During the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, Buddhism had just spread. The Flying Immortals in the murals were also called Flying Apsaras. Flying Apsaras and Flying Immortals could not be distinguished. The image of Flying Apsaras in this period was deeply influenced by the Flying Apsaras of India and the Western Regions. With the development of Buddhism in China, the art of Buddhism and Taoism combined. During the Sui Dynasty, the Flying Apsaras had the most variations and varied styles. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the image of Flying Apsaras reached its peak. Not only were Flying Apsaras used in grottoes and monasteries, but they were also used in the emperor's bedroom. In the remains of Flying Apsaras in various parts of China, there are four artistic forms of Flying Apsaras: Painting is the most important form, with Dunhuang as the epitome, which is featured by single-line flat map and colored painting; Stone carving is represented by Yungang and Longmen, which is a shallow embossed and faded after the original color application; Clay sculpture Flying Apsaras are featured by embossed and heavy color application; Wood carving Flying Apsaras are fully round or semi-round sculptures, painted with colored paint after carving, represented by Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. In terms of cultural content, Flying Apsaras were the crystallization of multiculturalism. They had the influence of ancient Indian culture, and also contained the aesthetic taste of ancient China Western Region culture and Central Plains culture. They contained the philosophical thought of "harmony between man and nature, and harmonious development." They expressed the beautiful wishes of the ancients to fly freely. They were the iconic symbols of China art. In addition, Feitian also had a legend about the Moutai Feitian trademark. Legend has it that when a fairy descended to the mortal world, she was rejected by a rich family when she asked for water. The poor family welcomed her warmly. In her dream, the fairy told the poor that they could use a certain stream to brew wine. The wine brewed by the poor was beautiful in color, fragrance, and taste, but the wine brewed by the rich became more and more sour. Later,"Fairy Holding Cup" was used as the unique registered trademark of Moutai liquor. Two red ribbons danced on the bottleneck to symbolize the red ribbons of fairies. The pattern of Moutai Flying Sky originated from the fairy flying in Dunhuang Grottoes. In 1958, the export trademark of Moutai liquor was officially changed to "Flying Sky" brand. The pattern was two fairies flying in the sky holding a golden cup, implying that Moutai liquor was the messenger of diplomatic friendship. In terms of origin and function, the Dunhuang Flying Apsaras were the combination of Qiantapa and Jinnaro. Kandarva was translated as the God of Heavenly Songs, also known as the God of Fragrance because of the fragrance emitted from her body. Jinnara was translated as the God of Heavenly Music. They were originally the gods of entertainment and singing and dancing in ancient Indian mythology and Brahmanism. They were absorbed by Buddhism and became the two gods of the Eight Gods of Heavenly Dragons. After Kandarva and Jinnara were listed as the Eight Gods of the Heavenly Dragon by Buddhism, their functions gradually mixed into one, evolving into beautiful, beautiful, dancing, soaring in the sky, and becoming the later generation of Dunhuang Flying Fairy. During the Western Wei Dynasty, there were already flying apsaras holding music and singing and dancing in the Mogao Grottoes. After the Sui Dynasty, the two were mixed into one and difficult to distinguish. "Legend of the Flying Apsaras" is equally exciting. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!