Art of India: Intro. and Buddhist Art

Question 1

Vedic civilization

Answer 1

came from NW Indoeurope;

Aryans instituted the caste system of social hierarchy based on birth with no upward mobility; Aryans were part of Vedic civilization

laborer–>trader–>military–>priest

developed a complex network of rituals based on sacrifice to gods who controlled elemental forces

Question 2

Upanishadic Civilization and Three Sacred Principles

Answer 2

Ganges river;

produced the Upanishads=sacred texts introducing 3 sacred principles that would become important in both Buddhism and Hinduism

1. ) samsara: life is rebirth into human or animal forms; reincarnation
2. ) karma: cycles of reincarnation are determined by deeds
3. ) moksha (Hindu) or Nirvana (Buddhist): cessation or liberation, stopping the endless cycle or reincarnation;

Question 3

Chandragupta Maurya

Answer 3

established a line of rulers that would unite India;

he unified India married the daughter of the Macedonian general who tried to invade India;

established trade and stopped the incursion of forces in this way

Question 4

Alexander the Great

Answer 4

extended his empire to the Indus River

Macedonian generals tried to extend the border to India, but were defeated by Chandragupta Maurya

Question 5

Ashoka

Answer 5

grandson of Maurya; witnessed a bloody battle in Kalinga and converted to Buddhism

made a special point to spread Buddhism not by force but by convincing people

created monumental sculpture which advocate Buddhist principle;

his columns don’t rest on the ground but go underground for about 10 ft., representing the Buddhist universal axis from earth to the sky

Question 6

yakshi/yaksha figures

Answer 6

sensual figures of female/male nudity;

will characterize Buddhist art personifications of fertility and associated with vegetation

yakshis: ample breasts, tight waist, round hips, not totally nude, holding fly whisk; surround Buddha to keep flies off of him

Question 7

Identify

Answer 7

Lion Capital Ashokan Pillar, Sarnath

polished sandstone

Question 8

Lion Capital Ashokan Pillar, Sarnath

polished sandstone

Answer 8

Sarnath=where Buddha preaches first sermon

emphasis on columns capped by lion (Buddha is often associated with lions)—the idea that a lion roars and his mouth is open; message can be spread by open mouth

long standing tradition to cap columns with animals

wheel on capital represents the chakra-divine law set into action here on earth (following this law allows devotees to reach enlightenment)

on the columns were inscribed the laws of dharma

the 4 lions back to back suggest the universality of the message

the lotus flower is a common motif: something beautiful coming out of the mud in pristine condition

Question 9

identify

Answer 9

Great Stupa, Sanchi

3rd century BC - 1st century AD

Question 10

Great Stupa, Sanchi

3rd century BC - 1st century AD

Answer 10

Buddha was cremated and ashes were put into 8 containers,

stored in stupas mound like shape;; not hollow but solid mound of earth and rubble

not a tomb but a place to hold important relics

Buddha was seen as a mortal that reached enlightenment, but with time people wanted to venerate and worship someone

ashes were then subdivided to make countless stupas

shape of stupa suggests a mandala (a geometric pattern in a square or circle with circle within a circle within a circle); this was seen as sacred diagram of order of the universe; symbol of the order of cosmos

enter the stupa through one of the four gateways and have to walk in a clockwise motion to show veneration to Buddha

Question 11

elements of a stupa

Answer 11

Torana = gateways; the gates in the great stupa are on the four points of a compass and represent images of Buddha indirectly; emphasis on spiral mandalas and elephants

vedika and harmika are residences of gods

axis pillar = axis of the universe

vedika wall = stone walls

Question 12

identify

Answer 12

Yakshi, Eastern Gateway, Great Stupa, Sanchi

stone

Question 13

Yakshi, Eastern Gateway, Great Stupa, Sanchi

Stone

Answer 13

mythological female figure is touching mangos, with foot touching the trunk of the tree

personification of abundance

almost totally nude but representing the love for ornamentation

females in Indian art and architecture are very different from Western art

there is an S-shaped curve in the body of the yakshi

Question 14

identify

Answer 14

Chaitya Hall, Karle

100 AD

Question 15

Chaitya Hall, Karle

100 AD

Answer 15

rock cut structure; site of a great stupa but in large cave carved inside of a rock face

horshoe arch leads in and an Ashokan column is present

not a site of Buddha worship–Buddha is a human who transceded regeneration

mithunas: male/female pairs on either side of Buddha–again like with yakshis representations of sensuality and abundance

lotus flowers are found on capitals and elephants can be found around the cave

125 ft. deep cave sites are fairly remote making it more like a pilgrimage; not too far from major trade sites however

Question 16

Buddha

Answer 16

Buddha: actual person, died around 80 years old;

lived 563-483 BC; born into a royal family

miraculous conception and birth: Maya (mother) had dream that she would be impregnated by an elephant, producing son that is fully grown, standing by her side;

immediately after his birth, Buddha took 7 steps ;

astrologer prophesized that he would either be a great ruler or a great religious teacher and so his father kept him in palace to prevent him from being religious teacher

Buddha at age 29 makes 3 chariot rides outside the palace and sees an old person, a corpse and a sick person for the first time; his fourh chariot ride shows him a holy man

Siddharta left palace and sent all his belongings back; lived 6 years as an aesthetic, renouncing food, sex, etc. and he almost starved to death when girl brought him bowl of rice

achieves enlightenment after sitting under tree and defeats the demon forces of Mara;

after this, he leaves the tree and teaches people the Middle way (one of balance)

spends the next 45 years walking around and teaching, said to preform miracles like taming wild elephant

Question 17

8 great events in Buddha’s life

Answer 17

birth,

victory over Mara

first sermon

descent from heaven

taming wild elephant

monkey’s gift (Buddha being sustained)

miracles

death

Question 18

4 Teachings of Buddha

Answer 18

1. life is suffering
2. cause of suffering is desire
3. one can over come desire
4. overcoming desire by following 8-fold path of right understanding following this will lead to Nirvana

Question 19

identify

Answer 19

Life and Death of the Buddha, Gandhara

schist

Question 20

Life and Death of Buddha, Gandhara

schist

Answer 20

presents Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, first sermon and death

schist: sedimentary rock that is medium-grade

shows a fully grown man standing next to his mother

Buddha is represented in anthropomorphic form, whereas in Sanchi he was shown only as a set of footprints, not in actual form (or an empty chair)

Will typically be shown standing, walking, sitting(2), reclining

Question 21

dharmachakra mudra

Answer 21

pointer finger and thumb touching on both hands

teaching mudra

Question 22

Dhyana mudra

Answer 22

hands in lap, slightly crossed at fingers, facing up

meditation mudra

Question 23

Abhaya mudra

Answer 23

right hand up, palm facing out

mudra of blessing, protection, “have no fear”

Question 24

characteristics of Buddha

Answer 24

ushnisha: bun on top of head as a biological crown of sorts
urna: dot on forehead (all seeing 3rd eye)

elongated earlobes (royal prince who had jewelry-stretched out his ears; reference to his royal lineage)

chakras on soles of feet, palms of hands

often seated on a lotus throne

Question 25

identify

Answer 25

Meditating Buddha, Gandhara

gray schist

Question 26

Meditating Buddha, Gandhara

grey schist

Answer 26

monk’s robe (looks like toga)–example of Western influence

circular form behind head: bland circle; integration of Christian concept of halo; pagan sol invictus

urna, ushnisha, meditation mudra, seated on lion throne/platform

eyes are closed in meditation

doesn’t look typically Indian: but more western in physical appearance

Gandhara was heavily influenced by Roman empire

Gandharan depictions of Buddha focus on the pre-enlightenment, anorexic stage of his life

Question 27

Bodhisattva

Answer 27

figures that look like Buddha, but wear jewelry

reached enlightenment but instead of accepting nirvana, stay behind to help others also reach enlightenment

Question 28

identify

Answer 28

Buddha on Lion Throne, Mathura

red sandstone

Question 29

Buddha on Lion Throne, Mathura

red sandstone

Answer 29

figures around him hold fly whips to get rid of flies

open hand = blessing mudra

robe only over one shoulder, semi-transparent

eyes are open and his gaze confronts us

Mathuran tradition uses red sandstone

figure appears more like yakshas–more bulk or mass, he doesn’t look so frail

Question 30

Identify

Answer 30

Seated Buddha Preaching First Sermon, Sarnath

tan sandstone

Question 31

Seated Buddha Preaching First Sermon, Sarnath

tan sandstone

Answer 31

associated with deer park in Sarnath

he sets in action the dharma wheel of law

starts the Gupta tradition of Buddha

back in act of meditating with closed eyes

like a fusion of Gandharan and Muthuran traditions

robe over both shoulders but is transparent;

mudra of teaching is shown; not linear articulation in body: smooth, rounded, swelling

halo from Gandharan becomes very ornate with linearity and ornamentation

Question 32

Two Schools of Buddhism

Answer 32

Mahayana: Great Path; help all people reach enlightenment, idealize Bodhisattva; appeals to India, China, Korea and Japan; broad goals

Theravada: the path of the elders; primary responsibility of Buddhism is to help individuals achieve enlightenment; appeals to South India and SE Asia

Question 33

Identify

Answer 33

Cave 19, Ajanta

Second Half of 5th Century

Question 34

Cave 19, Ajanta

Second Half of 5th Century

Answer 34

associated with monk’s quarters (vihara: residence for monks); not just a place to store ash

entrance with horshoe arch and lotus columns; inside is what looks like a stupa, but it is not

in early forms of Buddhism, Buddha is not shown, footprints, empty chairs etc.; now, Buddha is included in the depictions, Buddha is shown in the stupa

rhythmical pattern of columns, leaving a path to walk around counterclockwise;

when you enter dark cave from daytime, your eyes need to adjust and as they do, more and more details begin to appear–mystical effect

Question 35

Identify

Answer 35

Bodhisattva Padmapani, Cave 1, Ajanta

Second Half of 5th Century

Question 36

Bodhisattva Padmapani, Cave 1, Ajanta

Second Half of 5th Century

Answer 36

Buddhist paintings don’t survive very long; often painted on palm leaves and wood

here it was done on dry plaster: secco

clay, straw, white plaster, paint

pallet was limited: white, black, blue (sparingly), green, red and yellow

emphasis on linearity and detail (like in the Gupta tradition)

Buddha renounced jewelry, so this is one important way to identify a Bodhisattva