AH 201 (Kim) Final
Duccio, The Maesta Altarpiece, 1308-1311. Tempera and gold on wood
14th century Sienna, Italy Altarpiece The Maesta ("Majesty") Tempera depiction of
Pieta, c. 1330
14th century Vesperbild (pieta) Mysticism Christ's suffering- emphasizing his humanity and poverty
Mayans
1500 B.C. to 900 A.D. This is the most advanced civilization of the time in the Western Hempishere. Famous for its awe-inspiring temples, pyramids and cities. A complex social and political order.
Six Dynasties
220-581 CE; a period of chaos and division
Gu Kaizhi
A Chinese painter from the Six Dynasties period. Admonitions of the Instructress to the Ladies of the Palace is attributed to him.
Shiva
A Hindu god considered the destroyer of the world.
Mysticism
A form of religious belief and practice involving sudden insight and intense experiences of God
Mesoamerica
A geographic region in the western hemisphere that was home of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations.
Cluny
A new French monastery where monks strictly followed Benedictine rule.
Kofun Period
A period of initial stages of state formation in Japan.
Confucianism
A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct.
monastery
A place where communities of monks live lives of devotion to God in isolation from the outside world
Apse
A recess, usually semicircular, in the wall of a Roman basilica or at the east end of a church.
Hinduism
A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many forms
Daoism
A religion in China which emphasizes the removal from society and to become one with nature.
Mandala
A religious symbol associated with meditation, usually created with geometric patterns and shapes
Esoteric Buddhism
A sect of Buddhism that maintains that the secrets of enlightenment have been secretly transmitted from the Buddha and can be accessed through initiation into the mandalas, mudras, and mantras.
Silk Roads
A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia, along which traders carried silk and other trade goods.
Tempera
A technique of painting using pigment mixed with egg yolk, glue, or casein; also, the medium itself.
rib vaulting
A vault in which the diagonal and transverse ribs compose a structural skeleton that partially supports the masonry web between them.
Abbot Suger
Abbot of Saint-Denis. Set the stage for the heavy decoration of costly stained-glass windows and sculptures in the cathedrals of the Gothic age. Mark the beginning of Gothic architecture.
Life is pain and suffering
Acknowledges the existence of "happiness" in the world, but teaches it does not last forever.
Giotto
An artist who led the way into realism; his treatment of the human body and face replaced the formal stiffness and artificiality that had long characterized the representation of the human body
Mathura Style
An artistic style named after a city in Northern India, one of the two earliest centers of Buddhist art. Most Mathura style art came out of the Gupta period (AD 320 to 530), called the "Golden Age of India." Mathura Buddhas are generally unadorned and closely resemble traditional representations of Indian gods.
Head, Nok, Nigeria, 500BCE-200CE, Terra-cotta
Ancient Nok Terra-cotta
Pyramids at Meroe, Nubian, 337BCE-339CE
Ancient Nubia Pyramids Comparison to Egyptian pyramids
Shiva Nataraja
"Lord of the Dance" - Manifestation of Shiva where he destroys the world through dance
Shinto
"Way of the Kami"; Japanese worship of nature spirits
Shang Dynasty (China)
(1650 - 1027 BCE) Considered to be the earliest dynasty in China. A major contribution to Chinese culture was an advanced system of writing, by using pictographs, or drawings of objects, and ideographs, or drawings that expressed a thought or idea.
Gupta Period
(320-647 B.C.E.) is considered the height of Indian culture benefitting from royal patronage.
Tang Dynasty
(618-907 CE) The Chinese dynasty that was much like the Han, who used Confucianism. This dynasty had the equal-field system, a bureaucracy based on merit, and a Confucian education system.
Heian Period
(794 - 1100) move the capital to Heian; 300 years of developing a new culture; growth of large estates; arts and literature of china flourished; elaborate court life; personal diaries (pillow book and the take of genji); moved away from chinese culture
Song Dynasty
(960-1279 CE) The Chinese dynasty that placed much more emphasis on civil administration, industry, education, and arts other than military.
Karma
(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation
Kushan Period
-50 to 320 AD -Northwest India -First images of Buddha -Gandhara: northeast frontier of Kushan empire where Romano-Buddhist sculpture was made
Mamallapuram
-7th Century AD -Pilgrimage site -"Descent of the Ganges"
Seokguram
-Balguksa, South Korea -looks toward the east and rising sun -probably built as a private chapel for royalty
KANDARIYA MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KHAJURAHO India. c. 1000 CE.
-carved from a mountain
Vihara
Buddhist monastery
Pyramids in Mesoamerica
Built for the purpose of human sacrifice, appeasing the gods, and making the king close to the gods
The Bayeux Embroidery, Norman-Anglo Saxon, England, c. 1066- 1082.
Bayeux Embroidery History of the Norman Conquest of England • Embroidery
Buddhism
Belief system that started in India in the 500s BC. Happiness can be achieved through removal of one's desires. Believers seek enlightenment and the overcoming of suffering.
Palace Plaque of a War Chief, Warriors, and Attendants, Benin City Kingdom, Nigeria, 17th century
Benin Kingdom Used to decorate palace walls and columns Hierarchical size made with Brass
Shield Jaguar and Lady Xok (Lintel 24), Yaxchilan, Maya culture, 726 CE.
Bloodletting ritual Unique inscriptions Relief
Virgin and Child Enthroned, c. 1280. Tempera and gold on wood
Cimabue Tempera Stylized quality and flatness Altarpiece Comparison to Virgin and Child Enthroned
Narrative reliefs
Common in Buddist Art, tells stories usually involving symbols
The cause of pain is "desire" or "craving."
Even desire for existence itself.
A fang ding, a ceremonial cooking vessel. Shang dynasty, 13th century BCE. Bronze
Found in a tomb
PAINTED BANNER From the tomb of the Marquess of Dai, Mawangdui, Changsha, Hunan. Han dynasty, c. 160 BCE.
Found in a tomb
Gautama Siddhartha
Founder of Buddhism
Vesperbild (Pieta)
German Art -A Pieta is an image of the virgin mary holding dead Jesus -Popular in northern Germany/Europe -Wooden/graphic nature is relative to germany -Virgin's face shows pure human despair
Hindu temples
Hindu Worship involves treating the deities very much as if they were alive (washing, dressing, feeding, etc.). Daily ritual (puja) is performed either at home or in the temple
Angkor Wat
Hindu monument Cambodia Khmer empire Vishnu Churning the Ocean of Milk Devaraja (god king)
Shiva Nataraja (Lord of the Dance)
Indian. 1200 CE. Bronze. Bhakti movement stressing relationship between humans and deities. depicts shiva dancing in ring of fire.
Great Mosque at Djenne, Mali, 1906-1907 CE
Islamic architecture Mosque Quibla wall Kaaba Abode construction
BYODOIN (PHOENIX HALL), UJI Kyoto Prefecture. Heian period, c. 1053 CE.
Japan Heian period Byodoin
WOMB WORLD MANDALA Heian period, late 9th century CE.
Japan Heian period Mandala Esoteric Buddhism Meditation
Scene from The Tale of Genji Heian period, 12th century CE.
Japan Heian period Painting Handscroll (emaki in Japanese) The Tale of Genji Yamato-e Use of color, line, composition to deliver emotions
FIVE-STRINGED LUTE (BIWA) WITH DESIGN OF A CENTRAL ASIAN MAN PLAYING A BIWA ATOP A CAMEL Chinese. Tang dynasty, 8th century CE.
Japan Nara period Emperor Shomu Todaiji Eye-opening ceremony Silk Roads Buddhism
Fig. 12-4 HORYUJI COMPOUND
Japan Asuka period Horyuji temple-pagoda for relics and kondo (golden hall) for a statue
SCENE FROM FROLICKING ANIMALS Heian period, 12th century CE.
Japan Heian period Painting Handscroll (emaki in Japanese) Yamato-e
Amaterasu
Japanese sun goddess
Borobudur Temple
Java island, Indonesia Buddhist monument Stupa on the upper circular levels Four square terraces Buddhist reliefs Circumambulation path
King Oni
King of Nigeria
SEATED SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA Seokguram Grotto, near Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Korea. Unified Silla period, c. 751 CE.
Korea Modeled after Chinese cave temples but not a cave temple. Shakyamuni Buddha with earth touching gesture
Ise Shrine
Leading Shinto holy place, established by the imperial family
Sanchi
Location of Great Stupa
Padua
Made accurate drawings of human anatomy.
Moralized Bible made in Paris, 1226-1234. Tempera, and gold leaf on vellum.
Manuscripts Illumination Moralized Bible Created in Paris
Englightenment
Nirvana. Buddha= The Enlightened One
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde, c. 1150-1300 CE
North America The Southwest Kivas
Cimabue
One of first artists to break away from Italio-Byzantine style, Giotto's teacher,
COLOSSAL HEAD, Olmec culture, c. 1200-900 BCE
Portraits of rulers Individualized
Dancers in Ceremonial Attire, Tassili-n-Ajjer, Algeria, c. 5000- 2000BCE
Prehistoric period Ritual scene Tassili-n-Ajjer
Powerful priesthood
Priests controlled a lot of early Indian civilizations
MAIN HALL, INNER SHRINE, ISE Mie Prefecture. Last rebuilt 2013
Purification Rebuilding Connection to Japanese imperial family
First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty
Qin Shi Huang 秦始皇(Qín shǐ Huáng)
Shiva as Eternal Shiva
Shive with three heads and one body; carved inside a manmade cave, Elephanta
Romanesque Period
Period during 11th and 12th centuries in western Europe, characterized by influence and interpretation of Roman architecture.
Cistercians
So called "White Monks," after the color of their habits, this order was founded by the Cluniac monk St. Robert of Molesme in 1098. They adopted the Benedictine rule and placed a special emphasis on austerities, farming, simplicity, and strictness in daily life.
Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
Son of Pepin, crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800 (this strengthened church/state relationship in W. Europe). Set up empire capital in Aachen (present-day Germany).
A sculpture, Chavin de Huantar, c. 900 BCE
South America Animals with spiritual connections Made for a temple (maze-like system of narrow galleries)
Moche Portrait vessel, Moche culture, c. 100-700 CE
South America Moche culture Ceramic Individualized faces Discovered in a royal tomb
Earth Drawing of a Hummingbird, Nazca culture, c.1-700 CE
South America The Nazca culture Earthworks
Region of Hinduism
South India
Immortals' land
Taoism version of heaven
Palace Chapel of Charlemagne, Aachen
The Barbarians The Carolingian Empire Charlemagne (King) Palace city at Aachen Modeled after the Roman empire (especially the reign of Constantine the Great)
Amitabha Buddha
The Buddha of the Western Paradise, a bliss-body Buddha in Mahayana
King Ashoka
The King who sent out missionaries to expand Buddhism.
Pallava Dynasty
The Pallava dynasty was an Indian dynasty that existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling a portion of southern India. They gained prominence after the eclipse of the Satavahana dynasty
The Descent of the Ganges-Bhagiratha's penance to Shiva
The legend depicted in the relief is the story of the descent of the sacred river Ganges to earth from the heavens led by Bhagiratha. The waters of the Ganges are believed to possess supernatural powers. The descent of the Ganges and Arjuna's Penance are portrayed in stone at the Pallava heritage site
Kaaba
The most sacred temple of Islam, located at Mecca
Transept
The part of a church with an axis that crosses the nave at a right angle.
Monasticism
The practice of living the life of a monk
Benin Kingdom
This ancient African society was famous for its bronze statues of the oba, or king.
Lindisfarne Gospel Book
This work of art, filled with highly detailed designs, is a good example of pre-Romanesque portable, British Medieval Art
Attributed to Tori Busshi BUDDHA SHAKA AND ATTENDANT BODHISATTVAS IN THE HORYUJI KONDO Asuka period, 7th century CE.
Tori Busshi (artist for the right image) Shakya triad (Shakya means Shakyamuni Buddha in Japanese)
"Great Departure"
When Siddhartha Gautama left his palace and set off on his journey to learn about human suffering and how it could be stopped.
mythical animal decoration
When myths were passed down from generations, these creatures would also appear in art
Kushan Dynasty
Who was in control (kings of what Dynasty) of Gandhara's region during the close of the 1st century?
Crowned Head of a Yoruba Ruler from Ife, Yoruba, 12th-15th century
Yoruba people Ife (city name) Zinc brass Oni (king)
urna
a circle of hair, usually symbolized as a dot, between the eyebrows of a Hindu or a Buddhist figure.
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
vault
a curved ceiling made of arches
Kami
a divine being in the Shinto religion.
triforium
a gallery or arcade above the arches of the nave, choir, and transepts of a church.
Lintel
a horizontal support of timber, stone, concrete, or steel across the top of a door or window.
Indus River
a large river surrounded by fertile land in modern India/Pakistan.
Brass (technique-p. 428)
a metal copy produced from an original image made of wax
The Benedictine
a monk or nun of an order following the rule of St. Benedict
Maesta
a painting of the Virgin Mary as enthroned Queen of Heaven, surrounded by angels and saints
Bronze Age
a period of human culture between the Stone Age and the Iron Age, characterized by the use of weapons and implements made of bronze
piece-mold casting
a process for casting metal objects in which a mold is broken into several pieces that are then reassembled into a final sculpture
Ashokan pillars
a series of columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BC
Caste System
a set of rigid social categories that determined not only a person's occupation and economic potential, but also his or her position in society
Mudra
a symbolic hand gesture in Hindu and Buddhist art
Sanskrit
an Indo-European, Indic language, in use since c1200 b.c. as the religious and classical literary language of India.
Indus Valley Civilization
an early civilization with an advanced culture, located in the Indus River valley on the Indian subcontinent
Bayeux Embroidery
an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings.
Archivolts (Romanesque)
an ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch.
Banner
banner system was also the basic organizational framework of all of Manchu society
Moksha (Hinduism)
becoming one with Brahman
Ancient Chinese afterlife
believed that life carried on after death
The Tale of Gengi
centers on the life and loves of a handsome son, Hikaru Genji, born to an Emperor during the Heian Period
Axis
central focal point
Gandara Style
combines Persian, Hellenistic and Indian styles; portrayed Buddaha as an athletic figure
ambulatory
continuation of the aisled spaces on either side of the nave (central part of the church) around the apse (semicircular projection at the east end of the church)
Han Dynasty
imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy
Buddha as a human form
important depiction in different styles of South Asian art
Handscroll
in Asian art, a horizontal painted scroll that is unrolled to the left and often used to present illustrated religious texts or landscapes
stained glass windows
in Gothic cathedrals, depicted Bible stories and lives of martyrs and saints
Reaction to Vedic Religious
initially frowned upon because of violent rituals and practices
Ushnisha
knot of hair on the top of the head; one of the lakshanas of the Buddha
garbha griha ("womb chamber")
most important and the most sacred area as it hosts the deity itself.
Gandhara Style
multi-ethnic population and strategic location
Pagoda
multistoried Buddhist temple with eaves that curve up at the corners
Tassili-n-Ajjer
national park in the Sahara desert, located on a vast plateau in south-east Algeria; having one of the most important groupings of prehistoric cave art in the world
Fresco (buon fresco)
refers to painting into wet (freshly prepared)
Sainte-Foy
reliquary in Aachean
Ancestor Worship in Shang Dynasty
rituals/praying or giving gifts to dead relatives
Yoruba people of Nigeria
said to be prolific sculptors, famous for their terra cotta works throughout the 12th and 14th century; artists also earnests their capacity in making artwork out of bronze.
Stupas
semi-circular burial mounds covering the remains of a great leader or teacher. No interior space!
Asceticism
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
Ashokan edicts
showed Ashokyas adoption of Buddhist and Hindu principles, particularly by spreading his moral code he called the Dhamma.
Red Sandstone
significant in Buddhist Mathura art
Flying buttresses
stone support on the outside of a building that allowed builders to construct higher walls and leave space for large stained-glass windows
Wheel
symbol of Buddhist teaching at Sarnath
pinnacles
tall, pointed formations
Journey of Spirits
taoism believes that your spirit leaves your corpse and is reunited with god after death
Rebirth in Buddism
teaching that the actions of a person lead to a new existence after death
Neo-Confucianism
term that describes the resurgence of Confucianism and the influence of Confucian scholars during the T'ang Dynasty; a unification of Daoist or Buddhist metaphysics with Confucian pragmatism
Qin Dynasty
the Chinese dynasty (from 246 BC to 206 BC) that established the first centralized imperial government and built much of the Great Wall
circumambulations
the act of moving around a sacred object or idol
nave
the central part of a church building, intended to accommodate most of the congregation
Samsara
the cycle of life and rebirth in Hinduism
Unification of China
the merging of Chinese government and culture that occurred during the reign of Qin Shihuangdi
History of the Norman Conquest of England
the military conquest of England by William, duke of Normandy, primarily effected by his decisive victory at the Battle of Hastings (October 14, 1066) and resulting ultimately in profound political, administrative, and social changes in the British Isles
The Barbarians
the name given to outsiders by the ancient Greeks; also used by the ancient Romans
Book of Durrow
the oldest surviving complete illuminated gospel book in the insular style; probably created between 650-700 in Northumbria (northern England/southern Scotland)
Unified Silla Period
the period from 668 to 935. Started when Silla conquered Koguryo in 668 and ending with the rise of Koryo in 935
Vedic Period
the period in which the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Aryans were being composed
barrel vault
the simplest form of vault consisting of an unbroken series of arches; it forms a tunnel like shape
tympanum
the space enclosed by a lintel and an arch over a doorway
Crossing
the space in a cruciform church formed by the intersection of the nave and the transept
Clerestory
the upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, containing a series of windows. It is clear of the roofs of the aisles and admits light to the central parts of the building.
Relics in Vedic religions
typically stored in a different building; serve to preserve history and tell stories
Taoism immortality
ultimate goal; belief that this can be achieved by becoming harmonious with nature
Kivas
underground ceremonial chambers at the center of Anasazi communities
look at page 15, 16
ur very confused
quibla wall
wall in a mosque that faces mecca
Sarnath
where Gautama preached his first sermon about the Four Noble Truths
Great Wall of China
world's longest man made structure built to keep invaders from the north out of China, started by the Qin Dynasty, expanded by the Han Dynasty,
Chartres Cathedral, 1134
Gothic style Church of Saint -Denis Abbot Suger
Royal Portal, West façade, Chartres Cathedral. C. 1145-1155
Gothic style Door jamb sculptures
Rose Window and Lancets, Chartres Cathedral, c. 1230-1235
Gothic style Stained glass Rose window
trumeau
In church architecture, the pillar or center post supporting the lintel in the middle of the doorway.
Teotihuacan, c. 100-650CE
first example of a metropolian city
Life of Shakyamuni Buddha
He lived and taught in India in the sixth century B.C.E., a time of burgeoning religious and philosophical thought from Greece to China
The Vedas of Hinduism
Aryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.
Maurya Dynasty (India)
Asoka- Famous ruler of India who wrote the laws of India on tall rock pillars (columns) that were displayed throughout India. Asoka converted to Buddhism during his reign and is known for his kind treatment of people and animals.
Saint Faith
Born in the third century CE, she became a martyr for the Christian faith when she was killed by the Romans because she refused to make pagan sacrifices even under torture
Fig. 11-11 Attributed to Gu Kaizhi DETAIL OF ADMONITIONS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTRUCTRESS TO COURT LADIES Six Dynasties period or later, 5th-8th century CE. Handscroll, ink and colors on silk, 9-3/4" × 11'6" (24.8 × 348.2 cm).
Brushstrokes Handscroll
Aachen
Capital of Charlemagne's empire, c. 800; a city in present-day Germany
THE WESTERN PARADISE OF AMITABHA BUDDHA Detail of a wall painting in Cave 217, Dunhuang Tang dynasty, c. 750.
Cave Painting
Dunhuang Caves
Caves of the thousand Buddhas. They were sealed in the 11th century for protection from the Tibetan Raiders.
The Carolingian Empire
Charlemagne's empire; covered much of western and central Europe; largest empire until Napoleon in 19th century
Aniconic Period
Early Buddhist period in India with no human depiction of Buddha - Associated with Hinayana/Theravada Buddhism (Lesser Way) - Aniconic: only symbolic representation of Buddha (his footprint only shown in the beginning)
Giotto, Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel, Padua. 1305-1306
Giotto 14th century Fresco- Buon fresco Padua
Giotto, Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel paintings, Padua. 1305-1306
Giotto 14th century Fresco- Buon fresco Padua depiction of
Virgin and Child Enthroned, c. 1310. Tempera on wood
Giotto Tempera Altarpiece Three dimensionality Toward the Renaissance period 14th-century Comparison to Virgin and Child Enthroned
SECTION OF NIGHT ATTACK ON THE SANJO PALACE Kamakura period, late 13th century CE.
Handscroll painting Japan Kamakura period Shogun Samurai Kyoto
terracotta
Hard-baked clay, used for sculpture and as a building material. It may be glazed or painted. Commonly used in Chinese art
Xie He's Six Principles
His principles show critical terms borrowed from calligraphy and poetry to judge paintings. A painting with "life's movement" or "spirit." A painting should have an inner essence. Artists must cultivate their own spirit so that this universal energy flows through them and infuses their work. A painting with the brushstrokes containing "bone structure." Brushstrokes should reflect a painter's vitality.
Teotihuacan
first major metropolis in Mesoamerica, collapsed around 800 CE. It is most remembered for the gigantic "pyramid of the sun".
Circumambulation
In Buddhist worship, walking around the stupa in a clockwise direction
Gandhara style
exerted a strong influence on portrayals of Buddha in East Asia
Fan Kuan TRAVELERS AMONG MOUNTAINS AND STREAMS Northern Song dynasty, early 11th century CE.
Landscape Painting
Mohenjo-Daro
Largest city of the Indus Valley civilization. It was centrally located in the extensive floodplain of the Indus River. Little is known about the political institutions of Indus Valley communities, but the large-scale implies central planning.
Temples
for housing a Buddhist sculptures
Carpet Page, Lindisfarne Gospel Book, England, 715-720
Middle Ages Manuscript Illumination Lindisfarne Gospel Book made in the British Isles The Barbarians Abstract/ intertwined animal designs
St. Matthew, Gospel Book of Durrow, England, second half of 7th century
Middle Ages Manuscript Illumination cover of Gospels Book of Durrow made in the British Isles The Barbarians Abstract/ intertwined animal designs
Abbey Church of Cluny
Romanesque period Monastery Monasticism Examples of monastery buildings The Benedictine Cluny
Abbey of Notre-Dame at Fontenay
Romanesque period Monastery Monasticism Examples of monastery buildings The Benedictine The Cistercians
Cathedra of St. James, Santiago de Compostella, 1078-1122
Romanesque period Relics Reliquary Pilgrimage Santiago de Compostella St. James Pilgrimage Church
Reliquary Statue of Sainte Foy, Abby Church, Conques, France, Late 9th to 10th century
Romanesque period Saint Faith-martyr Relics Reliquary-Sainte Foy Pilgrimage
The Romanesque Church Portal
Romanesque sculpture Portal Tympanum Archivolts Lintel Trumeau Door jamb Relief
South Portal, Tympanum Showing Christ in Majesty, Church of Saint-Pierre, Moissac, c. 1115
Romanesque style Tympanum Christ in Majesty Hierarchical scale
The Last Judgement, Western Tympanum, Cathedral of SaintLazare, Autun, c. 1120-1130.
Romanesque style Tympanum Last Judgement Hierarchical size
Oracle bone reading ritual
pieces of ox scapula or turtle plastron, which were used for pyromancy - a form of divination
The Vedic Period
period in the history of the northern Indian subcontinent between the end of the urban Indus Valley Civilisation and a second urbanisation which began in the central Indo-Gangetic Plain c. 600 BCE.
Shang Dynasty Government
The Shang Dynasty was a monarchy in which the king was both lawmaker and judge so no-one dared to argue with him
Illumination
The artistic decoration of books and manuscripts; includes actual gold
Ife
The capital of Yoruba people; produced handsome bronze and iron statues.
Who is the Buddha or a buddha?
The enlightened one. Therefore, there could be more than one!
door jamb
The finished frame surrounding a door
The Olmec
The first Mesoamerican civilization. Between ca. 1200 and 400 B.C.E., these people of central Mexico created a vibrant civilization that included intensive agriculture, wide-ranging trade, ceremonial centers, and monumental construction.
Yakshi
female and male figures of fertility in Buddhist and Hindu art
INCENSE BURNER From the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng, Mancheng, Hebei. Han dynasty, 113 BCE
discovered in a tomb
shikara
dome-like cap to the pyramidal tower of a South Indian Hindu temple or the entire tower of a North Indian temple
The Maurya Dynasty
dynasty that supported Buddhism and its respective art
Composite piers
engaged columns attached to rectangular supports
Discovered in a tomb
oldest image in Daoism religion