Early Buddhist Art

VocabularyBuddhaNirvanaKarmaUrnaUshnishaMandala

StupaAniconic ChaityasToranaMandalaStupaAniconic

Early Buddhism Buddha-the Enlightened One Indian prince, 6th century BCEFour Noble Truths: Everything is pain; pain is desire; extinction of desire is nirvana; following the path of Buddhism ends painAbility to create good Karma for a better rebirthEnd of rebirthing cycle is achievement of Nirvana

The Great Stupa, Sanchi, India, 3rd century BCE

Diagram of the Great Stupa, Sanchi, India, 3rd century BCE

Torana, The Great Stupa, Sanchi, India, 10-30 CE

Boh Tree, detail of the East Torana, Great Stupa, Sanchi, India, 10-30 CE

Yakshi, The Great Stupa, Sanchi, India, 10-30 CE

Seated Buddha, Gandhara, Pakistan, 2nd-3rd century CEUrna-spot on head, curl of hairUshnisha-lump on top of headBuddha first depicted in human form in the 1st century BC in India and PakistanSimilarity to Roman Gods

Buddhism in China-1st century CE220-589 CE, China experienced civil unrest as a result of several conflicting dynastiesBuddhism comes to China via the Silk Road from IndiaBuddha-the Enlightened One Indian princeFour Noble Truths: Everything is pain; pain is desire; extinction of desire is nirvana; following the path of Buddhism ends painAbility to create good Karma for a better rebirthEnd of rebirthing cycle is achievement of Nirvana

Sakyamuni Buddha, China, Zhau Dynasty, 338 CEResembles prototype of the Pakistani BuddhaMisrepresentation of meditation gesture

BuddhSimilarity to Pakistani budda: flat relief folds of drapery, ushnisha, cross-legged positionHands were wrong, instead of turned upward in a typical meditation gesture, they are rubbing his belly