ART history 4 : Buddhist Art
BUDDHIST ART
Buddhism originated in what is today modern India, where it grew into an organized religion practiced by monks, nuns, and lay people. Its beliefs were written down forming a large canon. Buddhist images were also devised to be worshiped in sacred spaces. From India, Buddhism spread throughout Asia. Buddhist also have its own art which is rich with religious characteristic. Buddhist art is a precious part of our human cultural heritage. Thousands of masterpieces of Buddhist art are kept in museums and private collections all over the world and numberless Buddhist monuments adorn the lands of many countries. Buddhist art can be approached from numerous perspectives. Here we shall try to understand the meaning of Buddhist art in the context of Buddhism itself. We shall explore how the Buddhist art – ‘visual Dharma’ – presents the Buddha’s Teachings, and how it is used for the purpose of teaching. Our main focus, therefore, is not the history of Buddhist Art, but the meanings hidden in its iconography.Buddhist art is the artistic practices that are influenced by Buddhism. It includes art media which depict Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and other entities; notable Buddhist figures, both historical and mythical; narrative scenes from the lives of all of these; mandalas and other graphic aids to practice; as well as physical objects associated with Buddhist practice, such as vajras, bells, stupas and Buddhist temple architecture.Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Siddhartha Gautama, 6th to 5th century BCE, and thereafter evolved by contact with other cultures as it spread throughout Asia and the world.Buddhist art followed believers as the dharma spread, adapted, and evolved in each new host country. It developed to the north through Central Asia and into Eastern Asia to form the Northern branch of Buddhist art, and to the east as far as Southeast Asia to form the Southern branch of Buddhist art. In India, Buddhist art flourished and co-developed with Hindu and Jain art, with cave temple complexes built together, each likely influencing the other. In Buddhist art is believed to be able to transmit blessings, or the inspiration of great masters.Art is also used to facilitate meditation and different ritual practices. The Buddha image, for example, serves as a base for shamatha meditation, and different Tantric images are needed for certain initiation ceremonies, et cetera.Buddhist art is usually called Tibetan art. For more than a thousand years, Tibetan artists have played a key role in the cultural life of Tibet. From designs for painted furniture to elaborate murals in religious buildings, their efforts have permeated virtually every facet of life on the Tibetan plateau.
This is the example of Tibetan art.This complex Buddhist mandala was painted by the artist Sundar Sinkhwal and took ten months to complete. It depicts the sixteen-armed ‘Highest Yoga Tantra’ deity, Hevajra and his consort Nairatma on its central dais, with eight yogini goddesses surrounding them in a lotus circle, and another eight goddesses occupying the four gateways and corners of the mandala palace. Encircling this elaborate square palace are three wheels of lotuses, vajras and flames to protect against floods, earthquakes and fire, and outside this is the symbolic circle of the ‘eight great charnel grounds.’
Buddhism originated in what is today modern India, where it grew into an organized religion practiced by monks, nuns, and lay people. Its beliefs were written down forming a large canon. Buddhist images were also devised to be worshiped in sacred spaces. From India, Buddhism spread throughout Asia. Buddhist also have its own art which is rich with religious characteristic. Buddhist art is a precious part of our human cultural heritage. Thousands of masterpieces of Buddhist art are kept in museums and private collections all over the world and numberless Buddhist monuments adorn the lands of many countries. Buddhist art can be approached from numerous perspectives. Here we shall try to understand the meaning of Buddhist art in the context of Buddhism itself. We shall explore how the Buddhist art – ‘visual Dharma’ – presents the Buddha’s Teachings, and how it is used for the purpose of teaching. Our main focus, therefore, is not the history of Buddhist Art, but the meanings hidden in its iconography.Buddhist art is the artistic practices that are influenced by Buddhism. It includes art media which depict Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and other entities; notable Buddhist figures, both historical and mythical; narrative scenes from the lives of all of these; mandalas and other graphic aids to practice; as well as physical objects associated with Buddhist practice, such as vajras, bells, stupas and Buddhist temple architecture.Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Siddhartha Gautama, 6th to 5th century BCE, and thereafter evolved by contact with other cultures as it spread throughout Asia and the world.Buddhist art followed believers as the dharma spread, adapted, and evolved in each new host country. It developed to the north through Central Asia and into Eastern Asia to form the Northern branch of Buddhist art, and to the east as far as Southeast Asia to form the Southern branch of Buddhist art. In India, Buddhist art flourished and co-developed with Hindu and Jain art, with cave temple complexes built together, each likely influencing the other. In Buddhist art is believed to be able to transmit blessings, or the inspiration of great masters.Art is also used to facilitate meditation and different ritual practices. The Buddha image, for example, serves as a base for shamatha meditation, and different Tantric images are needed for certain initiation ceremonies, et cetera.Buddhist art is usually called Tibetan art. For more than a thousand years, Tibetan artists have played a key role in the cultural life of Tibet. From designs for painted furniture to elaborate murals in religious buildings, their efforts have permeated virtually every facet of life on the Tibetan plateau.
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| Sundar Sinkhwal, Hevajra Mandala (Seventeen Deity), 2005, gouache on cotton, 100 x 79 cm, www.tibetanart.com |
The trinity of deities in the sky above the mandala represent the “Three Jewels’ of the Buddha,” the Buddha, his dharma teachings, and his sangha or spiritual community. The outer frame or ‘torana’ of this painting depicts an assembly of mythical creatures and auspicious symbols, which traditionally appear in the Newar art and architecture of the Kathmandu Valley
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