Buddhist Art and Architecture in India

June 1, 2012

Buddhism begins with one man...

Budh: awake, to know Siddhartha Guatama (563? 483? BCE) Buddha Shakyamuni Shakya clan Prince in Nepal Maya

Birth of the Buddha

Buddhism begins with one man...

What would he be??? World leader or a great teacher? Age 29: left the palace 6 years as an ascetic Enlightenment (Nirvana)

Teachings of the Buddha

First Sermon at Deer Park, Sarnath Four Noble Truths All life is suffering The cause of suffering is ignorance Ignorance can be overcome and eliminated The way to overcome ignorance is to follow the Eight-Fold Path

The Eightfold Path

Teachings of the Buddha: Symbolized by the Wheel

Other Buddhist Beliefs

Samsara: endless cycle of birth and rebirth Karma: past actions (can determine a future life!) Dharma: duty, behavior Nirvana: release from samsara, attainment of enlightenment Who was Buddha in his other lives? Vessantara

Endless cycle of rebirth: samsara

Death of the Buddha at 80 years old

Disciples continued his teachings Missionary religion Cult of the Traveling Monks Monasteries established Religion spread to China, Korea, and Japan

Maurya Period: 322-185 BCE

Throughout Indias history, India was made of regional kingdoms Occasionally a very powerful dynasty formed an Empire This is the rst of these dynasties Stone sculpture, highly polished Not much art from earlier periods First Buddhist monuments Buddhism spread throughout the Empire

Emperor Ashoka and Buddhism

Ashoka: 273-232 BCE

Erected and dedicated many monuments to Buddha during his reign Adoption of Buddhism as the Empires religion: comparable to Constantines adoption of Christianity in the West Promotes the new religion (Watch the 2001 Bollywood movie!)

How does Buddhist imagery begin?

Ashokan Pillar at Bihar (bottom), 246 BCE, monolithic, 50 tall Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath capital (left), 250 BCE, 7 high, sandstone

Typical writing found on Ashokas pillars

The rst preserved Indian writing that we can read and interpret

Ashokas pillars were usually part of a larger complex, like a monastery

Axis Mundi: Axis of the world

Sarnath Capital, 250 BCE

wheel (top: now missing)

lions lion of the Shakya clan wheels and animals (lion, horse, bull, elephant) lotus (bottom): spiritual purity

Sarnath Capital: Emblem of the modern Republic of India

So wheres the Buddha??!

wheels lions

Is there a Persian inuence in the Sarnath capital?

India vs. Persia: How are these columns similar/different?

Buddhist Architecture in India: The Stupa

Symbol of Nirvana, venerated as the body of Buddha; pradakshina; reliquary

Great Stupa at Sanchi, 60 in diameter, 25 tall Founded 3rd c. BCE, enlarged ca. 150-50 BCE

Monastery complex at Sanchi

Great Stupa at Sanchi, 60 in diameter, 25 tall Founded 3rd c. BCE, enlarged ca. 150-50 BCE

Relief from the East torana of the Great Stupa at Sanchi Early Andhra period, mid 1st c. BCE

Are we nally seeing the Buddha here?

Jataka Tales: Stories from Buddhas past lives

The Great Departure, east torana/gateway, Great Stupa at Sanchi, 50-25 BCE sandstone, 8 long

Horse, continuous narrative, perspective

Left: Palace where Buddha emerges on his horse (But do we see him?)

Right: footprints, umbrella

The Great Departure, east torana/gateway, Great Stupa at Sanchi, 50-25 BCE sandstone, 8 long

Horse, continuous narrative, perspective

So why has Buddha not been depicted yet?

This was never articulated in any ancient text Monastic authorities grappled with whether it was correct/right to show the Buddha in human bodily form? Buddhas life stories, but indicated his presence with iconography Unique iconography developed Wheels, lions, footprints, umbrella, riderless horse, stupa, tree

Kushan Empire: 1st-3rd c.

India came under control of the Kushans, a nomadic people forced out of China Reached its height under Kanishka (78-144 CE) Peshawar was its capital, Mathura was the southern capital Cosmopolitan people Flourishing nation Roman trade was at its peak; Silk Road spanned a quarter of the globe Height of Roman Empire: 2nd c. CE

Changes in Buddhism
With shift to the laity, Buddhist church needed an icon Originally revered human being Now he has become a savior and a god So...the image of the Buddha appears Distinctive regional styles But Buddha was easily recognizable

 Lakshanas: 32 major distinguishing marks Sanghati: monastic robe halo Urna: third eye Ushnisha: cranial protuberance Elongated earlobes Closed mouth, slight smile mudra

How do we recognize the Buddha?

When does the rst image of the Buddha appear?

Gold coin of Kanishka Representations of the Buddha and the king Kushan, late 1st-early 2nd c. CE Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gold coin of Kanishka Representations of the Buddha and the king Kushan, late 1st-early 2nd c. CE Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Inscription in Greek: Budh)

lakshanas: sanghati abhaya mudra halo earlobes ushnisha

Mudras: Abhaya mudra

Gold coin of Kanishka Representations of the Buddha and the king Kushan, late 1st-early 2nd c. CE Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Inscription in Greek: Budh)

lakshanas: sanghati abhaya mudra halo earlobes urna ushnisha

Gold coin of Kanishka Representations of the Buddha and the king Kushan, late 1st-early 2nd c. CE Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Why is this coin so important?

Why is this coin so important?

It has a date: 78-101 CE

Standing Buddha, from Gandhara, Kushan period, c. 2nd-3rd c. CE 7.5 tall

How do we know this is the Buddha?

Mudras: Abhaya mudra Sanskrit for sign

Gandharan style: combines elements of Hellenistic, Persian, and Indian styles

Standing Buddha, from Gandhara, Kushan period, c. 2nd-3rd c. CE 7.5 tall

The Four Great Miracles, Gandhara, 2nd century CE, schist, 26 x 114 Freer Gallery of Art, Washington DC (originally decorated the base of a stupa)

Miracle of the Birth

Miracle of the Enlightenment; Mara

Miracle of the First Sermon; Deer Park at Sarnath

Miracle of the Death of the Buddha

Terms
karma, dharma, samsara, nirvana stupa, torana continuous narrative urna, ushnisha mudra

Images you are responsible for

Great Stupa at Sanchi Sarnath Captal Great Departure Buddha from the Gold Coin of Kanishka Standing Buddha The Four Great Miracles