ABSTRACT
Tang sculpture sets the standard against which all earlier and later achievements are measured. Although many of the greatest works in wood, dry lacquer, and clay have perished, major statements still survive in metal and stone. Tang cave temples, such as the Longmen site, are encyclopaedias of Buddhist sculpture of the period. Buddhist sculptures served to propagate the faith and, by commissioning religious works of art, its followers attempted to gain favour and salvation. W. ZWALF, ed., Buddhism : A rt and Faith (London: B ritish M useum, 1985).
