巴中石窟始建於隋代，經歷武周到開元，造像活動於天寶年間達到巔峰，天寶之後仍開鑿有大量窟龕。對唐前期（618－755）佛教造像研究而言，巴中地區被視為重要的研究對象。在巴中地區，南龕、西龕、北龕、水寧鎮水寧寺、化城鎮石門寺等處保存狀況相對良好。南龕在開元二十八年（740）左右開始造像龕的數量大幅激增，另外如石門寺等地也在此一時期起開始興建造像龕等因素，本論文將以618～730年間作為主要研究對象進行考察，藉此來揭示唐代前期巴中地區佛教造像的特徵及樣式、形式上的變化。

The construction of the Bazhong Grottoes began in the Sui dynasty, continued throughout the Zhou Wu and Kaiyuan era, and peaked in the Tianbao era of the Tang dynasty, with large numbers of niches and grottoes being built even after the Tianbao era. The Bazhong area is a crucial target of examination for studies on Buddha carvings in the early Tang dynasty (618-755). In this area, the Buddha carvings in places such as the Southern Niches, Western Niches, Northern Niches, Shuining Temple, Shimen Temple at Huacheng are preserved in a good condition. The number of Buddha niches in the Southern Niches started to sour in the 28th year of the Kaiyuan period (740), and such niches were also built starting from this period in other locations such as Shimen Temple. Accordingly, this study focused primarily on the period of 618-730 to unveil the characteristics, styles, and patterns of the Buddha images and carvings created during this time span in early Tang Bazhong area.

巴中地區; 摩崖造像龕; 唐前期

Bazhong area; Buddha carvings in cliff niches; early Tang period