During the third week, I discussed the specific steps and visual references for Buddhist statue restoration with my mentor. Much of our discussion focused on comparing images and identifying the features of Song-dynasty Buddhist statues, particularly their drapery, colors, forms, and facial features. The way a statue’s face is modeled reflects the artistic style of its period. Ming-dynasty Buddhist figures often have smaller, more elaborate oval faces and delicate facial feat

During the second week, I began studying Buddhist iconography. I mainly focused on the study of visual characteristics of Song-dynasty Buddhist statues. What are the most distinctive features of Song Buddhist sculpture? They can often be found in the drapery of the clothing, the use of color, and the overall form of the figure. However, much of this work still depends on careful visual comparison. We must examine surviving Song-dynasty paintings and Buddhist sculptures, then

During my first week, I stayed at Nengren Temple in Zhejiang Province, where I began studying Buddhist statue restoration and iconography. My master first gave me a detailed introduction to the history of Buddhist sculpture, polychrome decoration, and carving. Next week, we will begin more concrete work on restoration methods and historical verification. Our discussion of Buddhist sculptural history began with Gandhara. We traced the origins of Buddhist images and examined ho