Buddhist Iconography

1
Buddhist Iconography

• AP Art History
• Chapters 6, 7, 8
• Life of the BuddhaBuddhist SymbolsMudrasAsian
  Buddha Figures

2
Gandhara - Greco-Indian

• Synthesis of Hellenistic and Indian
• 300 BCE - CE 700
• Bactrian kingdoms of Pakistan, Afghanistan
• Cities established on Greek models
• Greek architectural features
• Acanthus column
• Greek themes and motifs
• Atlas substituted for Indian yakshi

3
Life of the Buddha 1

• Queen Mayas Dream
• Buddhas conception miraculous
• Giant white elephant pierced her in side
• Large circle would have contained elephant
• Greco-Indian style
• Greek robes

The Dream of Queen Maya, Kushan period, 1st
century A.D. Pakistan (ancient region of
Gandhara, probably Takht-i-Bahi) Schist 6 1/2 x
7 5/8 in.
4
Life of the Buddha 2

• Birth of the Buddha
• Born from Queen Mayas side
• Baby already displays
• Ushnisha
• Halo
• Urna
• Indian pose
• Like yakshi, syands with foot on tree ,
  manifesting fertility

Birth of the Buddha, Kushan period Pakistan
(ancient region of Gandhara, probably
Takht-i-Bahi) Stone 6 x 7 in.
5
Life of the Buddha 3

• Great Departure
• Buddha secretly leaves fathers House
• Four dwarves hold up horses hooves so departure
  will be silent
• Temptation
• Demons endeavor to persuade Siddartha to turn back

The Great Departure and the Temptation of the
Buddha, Ikshvaku period, ca. first half of 3rd
century India (Andra Pradesh, Nagarjunakonda)
Limestone 56 3/4 x 36 1/4 x 6 in.
6
Life of the Buddha 4

• Ascetic Years
• Sought answers to problem of suffering through
  asceticism
• Ate only rice begged from passersby
• Gandhara theme
• Uncommon in other areas
• Reappears in China and Japan
• Chan/Zen Buddhism

Fasting Siddhartha, Kushan period, ca. 3rd
century Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)
Schist 10 15/16 in.
7
Life of the Buddha 5

• Enlightenment
• Sat under bodhi tree
• Determined to meditate until found answer
• Besieged by Maras demon daughters
• Buddha touches earth with right hand
• Mudra - hand gesture
• Appeals to earth goddess
• Scenes around sides
• Eight Events

Plaque with scenes from the life of the Buddha,
Pala or Pagan period, 12th century India or
Burma Mudstone 3 15/16 in. (10 cm)
8
Life of the Buddha 6

• Serpent king protects Shakyamuni Buddha from
  heavy rains
• Common Cambodian theme
• Popularized by Khmer
• King Jayavarman sponsored state cult
• Snakes associated with healing
• Jayavarman built hospitals throughout realm

Buddha sheltered by a naga, Angkor period, 12th
century Cambodia Bronze 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
9
Life of the Buddha 7

• First Sermon
• At Sarnath
• In deer park
• Deer in pairs frequent Buddhist symbols
• Sets teaching in motion
• Wheel (dharma)
• Surrounded by ascetics who were his first
  companions

Buddha's First Sermon at Sarnath, Kushan Period,
ca. 3rd century Pakistan (ancient region of
Gandhara) Gray schist 11 1/4 x 12 3/4 in.
10
Life of the Buddha 8

• Death of Buddha
• At age 80
• Ate tainted food
• Laid down between two trees
• Passed into nirvana
• Iconography
• Recumbent body
• Surrounded by mourning disciples
• Other areas colossal figures

The Death of the Buddha, Kushan period, 3rd
century Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)
Gray schist 26 x 26 in.
11
Buddhist Symbols

• Lotus
• Purity
• Wheel of Law
• Buddhas teaching
• Stupa
• Grave monument for relics of Buddha or remains of
  holy man
• Deer
• In pairs
• First sermon at Deer Park
• Snake
• Pre-Buddhist fertility rituals
• Protection of Buddha

12
Buddhist Mudras

• Abhaya
• Varada
• Vitarka
• Dharmachakra
• Dhyana

13
Gandhara India

• Mature Gandharan style
• Less Hellenistic
• Mudra
• Abhaya-mudra
• Right hand raised
• To allay fears
• Mandorla
• Elaborate body halo

Standing Buddha, ca. 6th century Pakistan,
ancient region of Gandhara Bronze H. 13 1/4 in.
14
Gupta India

• Gupta Period 320 - 647
• Gupta sculptors established canonical Buddha
  image
• Gandhara iconography soft, full-bodied figure
• Clinging garments
• Painted Caves of Ajanta best examples of mural
  painting

Buddha, Gupta period, second half of 6th century
India (probably Bihar) Bronze H. 18 1/2 in.
15
Tang China

• Tang Buddhas
• Broad shoulders
• Narrow waist
• Pursed lips
• Arched eyebrows
• Mudra
• Dharmachakra-mudra
• setting the wheel of the law in motion
• Shakyamuni Buddha (Siddhartha)

Standing Buddha, ca. 6th century Pakistan,
ancient region of Gandhara Bronze H. 13 1/4 in.
16
Silla Period Korea

• Korean dynasty Silla
• 668 - 935
• Devotional figurine for private worship
• Mudra
• Right hand abhaya-mudra
• Left hand varada-mudra
• Fulfilling wishes

Standing Buddha, Unified Silla dynasty (668935),
8th century Korea Gilt bronze H. 5 1/2 in.