Art Narrative Flashcards
What does art tell us about in buddhism?
The life of the Buddha from birth to death
What pieces are featured on stupas?
Art pieces that focus upon the life of the Buddha
Where can art pieces be found?
On stupas
Are these pieces which are featured on stupas large?
No because it was believed they were a part of something more and did not need to be large
Where do art historians believe the pieces were located on the stupas?
At the base
What would monks/lay people do at a stupa?
Circumambulation
What is circumambulation?
It is the circling of a stupas clockwise in order to attain merit
What is circumambulation a form of within Mahayana Buddhism?
Giving
Where would the slabs be whilst you were circumambulating at the stupa?
They would be at your eye level so you could read the life of the Buddha as you a attained merit
Are there stupas today?
No, because they had been raided, dug out and their materials used for other means
What are art narratives within Buddhism usually focused upon?
The life of the Buddha
What is there to their art work?
A symbolic element
Name an example of a textbook which primarily features art work on the life of the Buddha
The pictorial biography of sakyamuni Buddha
Who believed that an illustrated biography would arouse the interest of youngsters?
Rev. Sing hung
Who did rev. Sing hung believe the pictorial biography of Sakyamuni Buddha would peak interest for?
Youngsters as they could have pictures to look at and relate information to - it is far more interesting and engaging
What would the pictorial biography of Sakyamuni Buddha serve as?
A textbook in elementary Buddhist studies
What would the pictorial biography of Sakyamuni Buddha teach?
It would teach on the life of the Buddha
Who translated the pictorial biography into English?
Prof. Z.a. Lu
Why was the pictorial biography translated into English?
Because they wanted to teach Buddhism to westerners
Why did they want to teach westerners on the life of the Buddha?
Because it was widely unknown and the British were discovering Buddhist sites, excavating them and not knowing what they were uncovering
Who would an introduction on the basics of Buddhism appeal to?
Western people as it can peak interest and teach them everything they need as a basis
What events are featured int he biography?
Events from birth to death
How are the events of the Buddha presented within the pictorial biography?
They are presented with pictures and a short description on what is happening in each
Name 3 examples of Buddhist art
Stupas
Textbooks
Manga
What puzzled art historians?
The use of bodhisattva as they thought they were referring to someone else
How was the Buddha represented before full representations?
Through signs
What signs were used to depict the Buddha?
A wheel
A tree
Footprints
What is the wheel a representation of?
The wheel of the dharma and the teachings the Buddha presented to his people
What is the tree a sign of?
Either enlightenment or birth - the Bodhi tree at enlightenment and the tree his mother clung to whilst giving birth
What did art representations change from and to?
They changed from mere symbols to full representations
What is full representations of the Buddha known as?
Aniconic art
Why were they not allowed to do full representations of the Buddha in art form?
It was inappropriate because full art depictions could lead to a attachment and prevent individuals from attaining enlightenment as they are too focused on the Buddha as a physical representation
What do art depictions connect?
Auspicious signs and the narrative tradition
Who played an importance in the development in Buddhist art?
Sakyamuni Buddha
What does art connect to?
Soteriology
Was the development of Buddhist art a gradual process?
Yes because they went from symbols to full representations
What influences some of the art?
Greek influences
Why are there Greek influences to the art work?
May have something to do with the invasion of Alexander and his attempt to take over India
Are there differences between art pieces? And why?
Yes there are differences between art pieces based on the times they were made and why they were made
What do different time frames mean for Buddhist art features?
That many do the same episodes and miracles will be represented in different ways
