This study concerns the cicada-patterned crowns of bodhisattva statues dating from the Southern-Northern Dynasties Period, more specifically the cicada-patterned crowns worn on the heads of three bodhisattva statues found in Shandong Province. It is known that crowns are a recurring motif worn by bodhisattva statues found in India, West Asia, and the Western Regions, but researchers have found an interesting and a possible association between crowns and the Cicada crown(蟬冠), a hat worn by distinguished noblemen in ancient China. However, there has not been much progress in specific and in-depth studies about their association, nor have sufficient studies cicada-patterned seongwan and Gold frontlet(金璫) been conducted.
As for the appearance of cicada-patterned crowns worn by bodhisattva statues, they are mountain-shaped and composed of stalks, round ornaments, and floral ornaments. It has been confirmed that both the mountain-like shape and the ornaments are associated with triple mountain-shaped crowns(三山冠) in the Yungang and Gongxian Grottoes dating back from the Northern Dynasties Period, that is, cicada patterns came to be added to triple mountain-shaped crowns, which were popular in the Northern Dynasties.
Cicada patterns are the most important feature distinguishing bodhisattva statues with them from others of the period concerned. This study includes a comparative review of the cicada-patterned crowns worn by bodhisattva statues and those worn by distinguished noblemen in ancient China. The latter, which appear in literature records or murals, differ from the former in terms of their overall appearance, and are also attached with martin fur whereas the former are not.
However, Cicada crown worn by distinguished noblemen portrayed in olden-day porcelain figurines and murals lack martin fur and look quite similar to those worn by bodhisattva statues found in murals dating from the Northern Dynasties and those displayed in porcelain figurines. It also turns out that compared to the unearthed relics of cicada-patterned Gold frontlet look much more simplistic than those portrayed on bodhisattva statues.
It is assumed that the depiction of cicada-patterned ornaments, which symbolized supreme power and nobility at that time, on the crowns worn by bodhisattva statues found in Shandong Province was associated with the adoption of Buddhism in China. The application of the traditional cicada pattern of China to Buddhism-related crowns signified the convergence of people s daily life with Buddhism.