What are the characteristics of the carving art of Peacock Dynasty?
Ashoka, the third king of Peacock Dynasty, converted to Buddhism, established the basic style of Buddhist architecture, and also created the complex of Buddhist architecture and sculpture art-Ashoka column stigma. In order to commemorate the victory of conquest and promote Buddhism, Ashoka built more than 30 single columns all over India. These columns are 10 m high, and the diameter decreases slightly towards the top. The stigma is carved from an independent and complete stone, with a bell-shaped bracket similar to an upside-down lotus below, a square or round top plate in the middle and a relief pattern on the side of the top plate; On it are one or more animals, such as carved lions, bulls or elephants. The most striking feature of the carving art of Peacock Dynasty is that the pillars of Ashoka Stone Pillar are mostly Chunar sandstone, and the stone surface is highly polished. It is said that King Ashoka recruited technicians from Persia and Greece to help Indian masons carve stone pillars and capitals in royal workshops, so that Persian and Greek carving techniques were integrated with Indian traditions.