An analysis of the aesthetic characteristics of animal imagery in the grottoes of the Central Plains during the Northern and Southern Dynasties

The grotto art of the Central Plains during the Northern and Southern Dynasties represents a critical period in the development of Buddhist art. The animal imagery featured in these grottoes not only served as carriers of religious symbolism but also functioned as a significant medium for artistic aesthetics. This study focuses on the animal representations in the grottoes of the Central Plains during this period and examines their formal language, spatial arrangement, symbolic meaning, and emotional expression. By doing so, it explores the unique aesthetic qualities of these animal images and decodes the underlying cultural connotations and artistic value. The results indicate that the aesthetic characteristics of animal imagery in Northern and Southern Dynasties grottoes reflect both the ethnically localized evolution of religious art and the foundational experiences in constructing the Chinese classical aesthetic system.