A King＇s Two Bodies： The Northern Wei Emperor Wencheng and Representations of the Power of His Monarchy  

作　　者：Scott Pearce 

机构地区：[1]Liberal Studies Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA

出　　处：《Frontiers of History in China》2012年第1期90-105,共16页中国历史学前沿（英文版）

摘　　要：This article examines the various ways in which the Northern Wei emperor Wenchengdi （440465; r. 452-465） was portrayed to his subjects. As is the case with many monarchs in many countries, he played different parts before different groups. For his soldiers, he was represented as a great hunter and marksman; to farmers in the lowlands, as a caring protector and benefactor; to potentially rebellious groups on the periphery, as a strong and steady observer of their actions. At the same time, it was in his reign that the Northern Wei court began efforts to use Buddhism as an overarching way to justify rule to all within the realm, by initiating construction of the famous cave-temples at Yungang, where ＂Buddhas became emperors and emperors Buddhas.＂ The spectacles through which Wenchengdi was portrayed are contextualized by a parallel examination of the very difficult life of the person behind the pomp and circumstance.This article examines the various ways in which the Northern Wei emperor Wenchengdi （440465; r. 452-465） was portrayed to his subjects. As is the case with many monarchs in many countries, he played different parts before different groups. For his soldiers, he was represented as a great hunter and marksman; to farmers in the lowlands, as a caring protector and benefactor; to potentially rebellious groups on the periphery, as a strong and steady observer of their actions. At the same time, it was in his reign that the Northern Wei court began efforts to use Buddhism as an overarching way to justify rule to all within the realm, by initiating construction of the famous cave-temples at Yungang, where ＂Buddhas became emperors and emperors Buddhas.＂ The spectacles through which Wenchengdi was portrayed are contextualized by a parallel examination of the very difficult life of the person behind the pomp and circumstance.

关 键 词：Northern Wei Wenchengdi legitimation propaganda ErnstKantorowicz BUDDHISM military culture 

分 类 号：U463.5[机械工程—车辆工程] K239.21[交通运输工程—载运工具运用工程]