Flying has existed in western art for a long time. In ancient China, there were myths and legends of flying gods, namely, feathered man and flying fairy. However, the flying art in Yungang, Longmen and Dunhuang Grottoes in China came from India.
In Indian mythology, Tian Fei is the goddess of clouds and water. She lives in lakes and swamps and often swims under bodhi trees. It is said that she is also the lover of Ci Letian (the god of Buddhism).
The Existing Forms of Flying Dunhuang Murals
There are only three existing Beiliang Grottoes in Mogao Grottoes. The most cool flying in the north is the natural disaster flying above the main characters of this micro-story painting on the north wall of Cave 275, with a round head, wearing a five-treasure crown of India, or a bun on his head, half-naked upper body, in a U-shape, his feet tilted upward, or breaking up or crossing his hands, in a volley flying posture, but this flying posture is very clumsy and has a sense of falling.
The U-shaped body also appears straight and hard, not yet round, slightly curved, with traces of flying posture of Indian stone carvings. The scope of Tian Fei's paintings in the Northern Wei Dynasty in Mogao Grottoes has been expanded. Not only painted on the ceiling, ceiling, story painting, niche, but also painted inside and outside the narrative map and niche. The image of flying in the Northern Wei Dynasty, some caves generally retained the characteristics of flying in the western regions, but some caves changed obviously and gradually changed to China.
Tian Fei's face changed from plump to slim, with thin eyebrows, small nose and symmetrical facial features. Have a round head, or wear five jewelry crowns, or a bun. The proportion of the figure is gradually slender, and some legs are equivalent to twice the waist. And all kinds of flying postures. Some have swam through space, some have soared with their arms, and some have flown with their hands. They are heroic and generous. The momentum is like flying clouds and cranes. Where the sky falls, fragrant flowers fall, which is quite poetic.