nepal and tibet

7/27/2019 Nepal and Tibet

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Nepal and Tibet

Ancient Architectural History


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Nepal

Influences: Geographical- 720km long x 240km in average breadth,

extending across the Himalayas and along the northern

border of India

- High mountains including Mount Everest

- Three old capitals: Katmandu, Patan and Bhatgaon

Historical and Social- bulk of population were Newars

and Gurkhas ( Tibetan-Mongol stock),

-Indigenous style in arts and architecture never

materialized because of Migrations and invasions from

India


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Influences

14th, 15th and early 18th C- arts flourished during the reign ofMulla Rajas

-1768: Gurkha Raja seized the empire. Rajput a Gurkhadynasty, Hindu by adoption and intermarriage ruled thecountry.

Religious:

-3rd C- Indian emperor Asoka brought Buddhism to the

valley of Nepal. Built stupas for commemoration.-5th ans 7th C- Buddhist and Hindu setllements were formed.

Conversions were made and monasteries formed


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Architectural Character

Exuberant decorative treatment of buildingsfrom India and China

Stupas, temples, picturesque townships and

intricate native craftsmanship Stupas : oldest monuments associated with

Asoka, Swayambunath and Bodnath both in

Katmandu Two kinds of Temples survived:

-Sikhara (Indian Influence)

-Pagoda ( Chinese Influence )


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Character

Monumental Pillar- a Nepalese town feature,generally supporting a metal superstructureadorned with mystic symbols, groups of divinitiesand portrait statuary of royalties.

Secular Architecture:-principaly of wood

-brick for sytructural purposes and metal forornament

in bigger streets, houses embraced a courtyard,faade were treated elaborately

-3 storeyed: ist-shop beneath an overhanging firstfloor which in turn is overhung by the top storey


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Character -each floor is supported by brackets and struts

ornately carved and sometimes painted -each floor is supported by brackets and struts

ornately carved and sometimes painteWindowshave lattice screens

-roofs have red curved tiles, metal gutters andprojecting cornice for protection against rain

decorations: carving, embossing, tinkling bells and

hanging lamps-adornment typifed in Makara form of rain water

spout, characteristic of Buddhist iconography andoften work of arts.


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Examples:

Swyambhu Nath

Stupa

Located in a lovely little hillrock Swayambhu Nat Stoup isone of the most fascinating

architectural jewels of theworld. This great Stoup is saidto have been built around 250B.C.

Generally a holy memorial siteStoup represents a typicalBuddhist architecture. Its mainfeature the white dome isidentified with a spotless purejewel of Nirvana and a thirteentiered golden spire in conical

shape surmounted on thedome. Underneath thistowering structure are a pair ofall seeing eyes of Buddhapainted on all four sides of theStupa.


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Boudha Nath

Stupa

One of the oldest and the biggestBuddhist monuments ever built in

Nepal, Boudhanath is an imposingstructure standing some 36 meters.The Stupa stands on the massivethree level mandala style Platformssurrounded by colourful privatefamily houses.The basic feature of this great stupais very much like that ofSwayambhunath stupa except itsfinial displaying. It is much biggerthan Swayambhu stupa and lies onthe valley floor whereas the formerone stands on the hill top. This stupais said to have been built in 5thcentury A. D. The site is consideredvery much like mecca for the TibetanBuddhists and every year tens ofthousands of pilgrims from all overthe Himalayan region visit the stupa.


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Tibet

Ancient Architectural History


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Influences

Geographical: Bounded by China on the North and

East, to the south by India, Nepal and Bhutan,

India on the west.

-the highest country in the world (4000-5000m in

elevation)

-monastic settlements

-sheep and yaks raised, possibly agriculture

-rugged land


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Historical and Social

Until the 7th C- small regions kingdoms were

established under King Sron-Btsang-Gam-Po

with 2 Buddhist wives

Monasteries, Chief Abbot ( the Grand or Dalai

Lama became ruler of Tibet )

19th-20th C- Tibet has become an autonomous

state of Peoples Republic of China


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Religious

Originally followed an animistic faith Bonpo,

which included elements of mysticism and

sorcery

630AD- Mahayana Buddhism was introduced,

tempered by indigenous folk cults

Tantric Buddhism prevalent in other countries

was founded by Padma- Sambhava


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Character

Influenced by Indian Buddhism

9th century influence from the east:

-stupas

-monastery- fortress like, sited on hilltops, not regular in plan,

built of stones and bricks Temple: rectangular stone building, vermillion and yellow

bands in the eaves

Roof: carries a chinese pagoda type pavillion, tile or beatenclay roofing

Plan resembles a chaityas . Pillars and Beams are paintedyellow or red

Walls are covered with frescoes or silks


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Examples

Sakya Monastery (1071): once famous for its

collection of Sanskrit and Tibetan Manuscripts,

7 storeys high with spacious assembly hall

Potala Palace, Lhasa: built for the 5th Dalai

Lama. Skycraper like sloping walls, guilded

roofs and bells, richly decorated sanctuaries,

reception and state rooms.


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Sakya Monastery

The seat of

the Sakya orSakyapa school

of Tibetan Buddhism, it was

founded in 1073, by KonchokGyelpo (1034-1102), originally

a Nyingmapa monk of the

powerful noble family of

the Tsang and became thefirst Sakya Trizin. Its powerful

abbots governed Tibet during

the whole of the 13th century

after the downfall of the kingsuntil they were eclipsed by the

rise of the

new Gelukpa school

ofTibetan Buddhism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakyapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyingmapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9C-Tsanghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakya_Trizinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelukpahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Buddhismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Buddhismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelukpahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakya_Trizinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakya_Trizinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakya_Trizinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9C-Tsanghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyingmapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakyapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakya


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Potala Palace

Situated on the Red Hill

of central Lhasa, Potala

Palace is the highest

ancient palace in the

world, reaching

3,767.19m (12,359.55ft) atthe topmost point.

Potala named after a

holy hill in South India is

a Sanskrit word meaning"Abode of the

Avalokitesvara (Buddha

of Mercy)."


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Potala Palace

nepal and tibet

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