ahis125 week6
The Great Stupa of Sanchi
-Madhya Pradesh, India, Shunga and early Andhra periods, 3rd to 1st cent. BCE. -Stupa: hemispherical reliquary containing relics of Buddha and other important monks -Yasti: mast crowned with 3 disks (perhaps representing 3 realms of existence, desire, form and formlessness) symbolizing the axis mundi -Circumambulation: walking in clock-wise direction around a monument -Yakshi: female spirits associated with productive forces of nature
Lion capital of an Ashoka column
- sandstone, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India, Maurya period, c. 250 BCE. -originally crowned the pillar erected at Sarnath in north central India, the site of the Buddha's first session -height 7 ft -the lowest portion represents the down turned petals of a lotus blossom -because the lotus flower emerges from murky waters without any mud sticking to its petals it symbolizes the presence of divine purity in the imperfect world -the animals may symbolize the four great rivers in the world which are mentioned in Indian creation myths -the four lions are facing the four cardinal directions and may be symbolizing the universal nature of Buddhism and the universal currency of Ahoka's law inscribed on the pillar their roar might be compared with the speech of the Buddha that spreads fare and wide thei lions may also refer to the Buddha himself who is known as "the lion of the Shakya clan" the clan into which the Buddha was born as a prince the lions originally supported a great wheel the wheel refers to Buddhist teaching for with his sermon at Sarnath the Buddha "set the wheel of the law in motion" the wheel is also a symbol of the ideal universal monarch and so refers to Ashoka as well -veins and tendons stand out on the legs: the claws are large and powerful, the mane is richly textured and the jaws have a loose and fluttering edge- realistic elements
Seated Buddha
-red sandstone, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2 nd century CE, h 70 cm. -The figure is dressed in the austere gard of monk and seated in meditation -halo, symbolizing the sun -He bears the physical attributes of the Buddha:the urna, or tuft of hair between the eyes; the earlobes permanently lengthened from the weight of the earrings he once wore as a prince. -Flanking the Buddha are two attendants bearing ceremonial whisks(chauri). -the lions are symbolic of the Buddha's royalty. -The hand gesture "mudra" means "fear not". -the Buddha image is not yet fully developed by this time in the second century C.E. Such details as the treatment if the hair have not achieved their standard form.
The Great Departure
-relief panel in sandstone, east gate, Great Stupa of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India, second half of 1 st cent. BCE. -This is a detail of the central achitrave east gateway of the Great Stupa at Sanchi -There is a horse carrying Buddha away We see Buddha being represented by parasails and as the horse turns around, the parasails are gone. The Gods are holding up the horse so that his hooves make no noise. There are 5 horses shown because this is a continuous narrative. -Also a relief sculpture, (aniconic - refusal to depict divine beings. These narratives were created as a form of recruitment so others would know the story of Buddha.
The assaults of Mara and moment of enlightenment
-relief panel in schist, Gandhara, Pakistan, 2 nd cent. CE. -Mara: supernatural being regarded as personification of death, delusion, and temptation Summoned demons as soldiers and women to distract Siddhartha while meditating Tried to tempt Siddhartha to stay in nirvana and not spread his teachings
Standing Buddha
-schist, Gandhara, Peshawar, Parkistan, 2 nd-3 rd century CE, h 2.45 m. -gandhara style shows buddha as a super human broad body and massive heavy shoulders and limbs as well as defined torso left knee bent showing he is relaxed.
