Art of India: Intro. and Buddhist Art Flashcards
Vedic civilization
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
Upanishadic Civilization and Three Sacred Principles
Ganges river;
produced the Upanishads=sacred texts introducing 3 sacred principles that would become important in both Buddhism and Hinduism
- ) samsara: life is rebirth into human or animal forms; reincarnation
- ) karma: cycles of reincarnation are determined by deeds
- ) moksha (Hindu) or Nirvana (Buddhist): cessation or liberation, stopping the endless cycle or reincarnation;
Chandragupta Maurya
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
Alexander the Great
extended his empire to the Indus River
Macedonian generals tried to extend the border to India, but were defeated by Chandragupta Maurya
Ashoka
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
yakshi/yaksha figures
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
Identify
Lion Capital Ashokan Pillar, Sarnath
polished sandstone
Lion Capital Ashokan Pillar, Sarnath
polished sandstone
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
identify
Great Stupa, Sanchi
3rd century BC - 1st century AD
Great Stupa, Sanchi
3rd century BC - 1st century AD
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
elements of a stupa
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
identify
Yakshi, Eastern Gateway, Great Stupa, Sanchi
stone
Yakshi, Eastern Gateway, Great Stupa, Sanchi
Stone
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
identify
Chaitya Hall, Karle
100 AD
Chaitya Hall, Karle
100 AD
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
Buddha
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
8 great events in Buddha’s life
birth,
victory over Mara
first sermon
descent from heaven
taming wild elephant
monkey’s gift (Buddha being sustained)
miracles
death
4 Teachings of Buddha
- life is suffering
- cause of suffering is desire
- one can over come desire
- overcoming desire by following 8-fold path of right understanding following this will lead to Nirvana
identify
Life and Death of the Buddha, Gandhara
schist
Life and Death of Buddha, Gandhara
schist
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
dharmachakra mudra
pointer finger and thumb touching on both hands
teaching mudra
Dhyana mudra
hands in lap, slightly crossed at fingers, facing up
meditation mudra
Abhaya mudra
right hand up, palm facing out
mudra of blessing, protection, “have no fear”
characteristics of Buddha
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
identify
Meditating Buddha, Gandhara
gray schist
Meditating Buddha, Gandhara
grey schist
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
Bodhisattva
figures that look like Buddha, but wear jewelry
reached enlightenment but instead of accepting nirvana, stay behind to help others also reach enlightenment
identify
Buddha on Lion Throne, Mathura
red sandstone
Buddha on Lion Throne, Mathura
red sandstone
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
Identify
Seated Buddha Preaching First Sermon, Sarnath
tan sandstone
Seated Buddha Preaching First Sermon, Sarnath
tan sandstone
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
Two Schools of Buddhism
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
Identify
Cave 19, Ajanta
Second Half of 5th Century
Cave 19, Ajanta
Second Half of 5th Century
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
Identify
Bodhisattva Padmapani, Cave 1, Ajanta
Second Half of 5th Century
Bodhisattva Padmapani, Cave 1, Ajanta
Second Half of 5th Century
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
