Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China
Abstract Scientific analysis revealed the materials and techniques used in the process of making polychrome sculptures providing a solid foundation for the protection and restoration of the painted statues. In addition, the analyses revealed changes in colour schemes applied to the sculptures can pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Heritage Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00592-3 |
| _version_ | 1818882203395817472 |
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| author | Yongdong Tong Youzhen Cai Xuening Wang Zhimin Li Austin Nevin Qinglin Ma |
| author_facet | Yongdong Tong Youzhen Cai Xuening Wang Zhimin Li Austin Nevin Qinglin Ma |
| author_sort | Yongdong Tong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Scientific analysis revealed the materials and techniques used in the process of making polychrome sculptures providing a solid foundation for the protection and restoration of the painted statues. In addition, the analyses revealed changes in colour schemes applied to the sculptures can provide the basis for the virtual restoration of the painted statues. In order to carry out scientifically-informed protection and restoration of the Bodhidharma statue from the Lingyan Temple, Changqinq, Shandong, several analytical methods such as optical microscope (OM), Micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-RS), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed. Analyses clearly reveal the information including the stratigraphic structure and the composition of pigment. The use of silver foils and golden yellow pyrophyllite mineral to replace gold foils were found in the gilding paint layer in the later repainting after the Song Dynasty. This work reports the coexistence of emerald green (Cu(C2H3O2)2·3Cu(AsO2)2) and the degradation product lavendulan (NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl·5H2O) in large areas of the paint stratigraphy and on the surface confirming that the degradation of emerald green is related to the thickness of the paint layer; in thinner paint layers emerald green is transformed in lavendulan, while thicker layers of contain both lavendulan and emerald green, suggesting an environmental source of chlorides. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:14:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2dc45c3be13f4d2c993a35a7110b04c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7445 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:14:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-2dc45c3be13f4d2c993a35a7110b04c42022-12-21T20:16:13ZengSpringerOpenHeritage Science2050-74452021-09-019112110.1186/s40494-021-00592-3Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, ChinaYongdong Tong0Youzhen Cai1Xuening Wang2Zhimin Li3Austin Nevin4Qinglin Ma5Institute of Cultural Heritage and History of Science & Technology, University of Science and Technology BeijingShandong Cultural Relic Conservation and Restoration CenterShandong Cultural Relic Conservation and Restoration CenterInternational Joint Research Laboratory of Environmental and Social Archaeology, Shandong UniversityCourtauld Institute of Art, Somerset HouseInternational Joint Research Laboratory of Environmental and Social Archaeology, Shandong UniversityAbstract Scientific analysis revealed the materials and techniques used in the process of making polychrome sculptures providing a solid foundation for the protection and restoration of the painted statues. In addition, the analyses revealed changes in colour schemes applied to the sculptures can provide the basis for the virtual restoration of the painted statues. In order to carry out scientifically-informed protection and restoration of the Bodhidharma statue from the Lingyan Temple, Changqinq, Shandong, several analytical methods such as optical microscope (OM), Micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-RS), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed. Analyses clearly reveal the information including the stratigraphic structure and the composition of pigment. The use of silver foils and golden yellow pyrophyllite mineral to replace gold foils were found in the gilding paint layer in the later repainting after the Song Dynasty. This work reports the coexistence of emerald green (Cu(C2H3O2)2·3Cu(AsO2)2) and the degradation product lavendulan (NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl·5H2O) in large areas of the paint stratigraphy and on the surface confirming that the degradation of emerald green is related to the thickness of the paint layer; in thinner paint layers emerald green is transformed in lavendulan, while thicker layers of contain both lavendulan and emerald green, suggesting an environmental source of chlorides.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00592-3Lingyan TempleArhat statuesPaint layersScientific analysis |
| spellingShingle | Yongdong Tong Youzhen Cai Xuening Wang Zhimin Li Austin Nevin Qinglin Ma Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China Heritage Science Lingyan Temple Arhat statues Paint layers Scientific analysis |
| title | Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China |
| title_full | Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China |
| title_fullStr | Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China |
| title_short | Polychrome arhat figures dated from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) at the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China |
| title_sort | polychrome arhat figures dated from the song dynasty 960 1279 ce at the lingyan temple changqing shandong china |
| topic | Lingyan Temple Arhat statues Paint layers Scientific analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00592-3 |
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