Analytical study of Buddha sculptures in Jingyin temple of Taiyuan, China

With exquisite design and unique style, the painted sculptures of Tutang Buddha and two attendants Buddha in Jingyin Temple are precious cultural heritages of China. The sculpture of Tutang Buddha, which was carved from a mound and painted by ancient craftsmen, was rarely found in ancient China. However, due to natural and human factors, the sculptures were severely damaged. Obviously, they require urgent and appropriate protection and restoration. In this study, samples taken from the sculptures were analysed through multiple analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and granulometry. The analysis results enable us to infer the techniques used by the craftsmen in making the sculptures and provide a reliable evidence for the conservation and future protection of these and similar sculptures.