Early Buddhist Stupas and Their Decoration

ArtH 160: Introduction to Asian Art Thursday, September 8, 2011

Maurya Dynasty ca. 322-185 BCE King Ashoka (r. 273-232 BCE))

Paliputra Sarnath

Basic Buddhist Concepts Gautama Siddhartha (ca. 556-c. 486 BCE) Shakyamuni Buddha Karma and rebirth Dependent origination: nothing exists independent of everything else Impermanence: everything changes; permanence is an illusion Enlightenment and nirvana

The First Sermon at Sarnath (Putting in motion the wheel of the law)
First Sermon at Sarnath: Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path 1. Life is suffering; 2. Suffering is caused by attachment/desire; 3. One can end suffering by eliminating attachment/desire; 4. The way to ending suffering is the Eightfold Path: 1. Right knowledge/understanding; 2. Right purpose/resolve; 3. Right speech; 4. Right conduct; 5. Right livelihood; 6. Right effort; 7. Right self-awareness; 8. Right meditation

Indus Valley (ca. 2500-1500 BCE) Vedic Period (ca. 1500-500 BCE) Maurya Dynasty (c. 382-185 BCE) Shunga Dynasty (ca. 185-73 BCE)
Sarnath Bharhut Sanchi

Bhaja

Buddhist Architecture Stupa Chaitya Hall Vihara

The Early Buddhist Stupa

Stupa #2 at Sanchi Shunga Dynasty, 2nd century BCE Stupa inside hall at Bhaja

Principal Components of the Buddhist Stupa

Cosmological Orientation of the Buddhist Stupa

axis mundi "world axis"

mandala sacred circle

The Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya

Harmika of Stupa 1 at Sanchi

Great Stupa at Sanchi plan and elevation

Four Gates: East: Birth South: Enlightenment West: First Sermon North: Death

Stupa #1 (the Great Stupa) at Sanchi Founded by King Ashoka, completed during Early Andhra Period, ca. 50 BCE 50 CE

Ritual of circumambulation

Decoration of Stupa Railings at Bharhut, Sanchi

Bharhut, 2nd century BCE height of railing c. 9', torana c. 20'

Sanchi Stupa 1, 1st century CE height of pillars c. 12', torana c. 34'

Sanchi Stupa 1, South Gate

Ashokan Lion Capital at Sarnath, 3rd century BCE

Sanchi Stupa 1, South Gate, 1st century CE

East Gate of Stupa #1 at Sanchi Early Andhra Period, ca. 50 BCE 50 CE Yakshi

Yakshi (female) nature, fertility spirit

Yakshi on East Gate of Sanchi Stupa #1

Stupa Gate from Bharhut Shunga Dynasty, 2nd century BCE Red sandstone, h. ca. 7 Indian Museum, Calcutta

Stupa railing from Bharhut Shunga Dynasty, 2nd century BCE Red sandstone, h. ca. 7 Indian Museum, Calcutta

1st century CE

2nd century BCE

Yakshi on East Gate of Sanchi Stupa #1

Yakshi from railing of Bharhut Stupa

Yakshi on pillar from Bharhut (?); Norton Simon Museum

Bharhut

Sanchi

Yaksha male nature, fertility spirit

jataka story (previous lives of the Buddha) continuous narrative

Jataka of the Monkey King From the railing of the Bharhut Stupa Shunga Dynasty, 2nd century BCE

Mandala: "map" of the cosmos

Sand Mandala at the Pacific Asia Museum Mandala of Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva of Compassion) Blessing Ceremony 9/7/11

Sand Mandala at the Pacific Asia Museum

Sand Mandala at the Pacific Asia Museum

Sand Mandala at the Pacific Asia Museum

Sand Mandala at the Pacific Asia Museum

Sand Mandala at the Pacific Asia Museum

Sand Mandala at LACMA, Oct. '03 Jan. '04