 
Feitian,
one of the murals in Chinese temples and grottos, is
an imagined flying god, which has been in Western art
for a long time. There are stories of flying god in
ancient China, such as the myth of Luren and Feitian.
However, the art of flying apsaras in Yuangang, Longmen
and Dunhung Grottos in China came from India. In Indian
mythology, Feitian is said to be a goddess of cloud
and water, inhabiting in lake and marsh, and flying
pleasantly and freely below bodhi trees. She is also
said to be the lover of a God named Jiletian. In Buddhist
scripture, Feitian is called the god of heaven song
or music, who can play music and sing songs. Moreover,
being fragrant, she is also referred to as "Fragrant
goddess with sweet voice."
Ancient
China's Feitian, like the one in Yungang Grotto, is
shaped in a rough and unstrained way, lacking vividness.
The figures on it may be male or female. Some of them
even have beard. Obviously, this is affected by alien
art. In flourishing age of Tang Dynasty, mural's art
got to such a high level that Feitian embodying the
national characteristics is Gansu Province. They almost
are young girls. Slim in figure, plump in face, unstrained
in manner and gentle in mood. What deserves our attention
most is that Feitian in Dunhuang is bare without wings
and feather. A ribbon fluttering elegantly and beautifully,
Feitian displays a moving scene that a group of girls
are flying and dancing freely in the sky. Some girls
are going through clouds and rivers, fruits in hand;
Some are playing moving and beautiful music. Buddhistic
picture as Feitain is, she vividly reflects that people
in ancient time long for freedom.
To appreciate Feitian is an entertainment of aethetics.
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