The Figure Of The Buddha Essay - 1687 Words

The figure of the Buddha is one that is relatively well recognized throughout the world today. One may wonder why and how people are able to so quickly identify this religious icon in art such as sculpture. With a religion that spread almost entirely throughout the continent of Asia, it is surprising to find that although there are many creative variants, Buddhist sculpture still preserves many key iconographic features. The most fundamental characteristics of Buddhist sculpture are listed in the thirty-two Lakshanas, or â€Å"rules† for depicting the Buddha. In addition, Buddhist portraits also consistently make use of hand gestures, or mudras, and various seated positions, also called the asanas. It can be noted that these serve more than just the purpose of mere aesthetic design, but indeed they have many contextual meanings in the story of Buddhism. Iconography, or the use of visual images and symbols in artwork, is fundamental in understanding the religious context of scu lpture. In this paper I will be discussing notable iconographic features displayed in works similar to the Seated Buddha exhibited in the University of Colorado, Boulder Art Museum and how these features are connected to the larger Buddhist practice as a whole. In the third century BCE, Buddhist art emerged due to the patronage by King Ashoka, the founder of the Mauryan Dynasty. In an effort to spread this new religion, the emperor created grand stone pillars and other shrines inscribed with teachings fromShow MoreRelatedAncient Art Of South And Southeast Asia974 Words   |  4 Pagesfeaturing important religious figures such as Buddha. Two examples are the â€Å"Standing Figure of Buddha† by Takht-iBahi Gandhara and the â€Å"Bodhisattva Maitreya by an unknown artist. Both figures were created in the second and third centuries CE and stand between forty and forty-five inches tall. The height and time period, however, are not the only similarities between the two. There are multiple similarities and differences between the â€Å"Standing Figure of Buddha† by Takht-iBahi Gandhara, and theRead MoreThe Story Of Buddhism By Donald M. Rodriguez Jr.1743 Words   |  7 Pages The Kannon Bosatsu, or Avalokitesvara Bodhisatt va, is a carved wood statue of a Bodhisattva figure standing about two and one half to three meters tall. This statue shows a high level of detail on the Bodhisattva s body, and is carved so smoothly that it could be mistaken for a stone carving. The show of skilled craftsmanship can be seen around the shoulders with the interaction of the cloth with the jewelry the Bodhisattva. The statue is placed on an ornate pedestal to cause the figurineRead MoreThe Role Of Buddhism And Its Arts1304 Words   |  6 PagesGandhara from India were the artist of the Buddha sculpture titled as Teaching Buddha which represents the second miracle of Srasvasti wherein the Buddha performed his superiority over kasyapas. This piece of sculpture was made in second or third century as a seated Buddha on an inverted lotus throne supported by two elephants and a lion. This sculpture’s present location is at The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) in Berkeley California. The sc ulpture is placed on the tableRead MoreArt Appreciation Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesArt Appreciation Rathnasambhava, the Transcendent Buddha of the South and Madonna Enthroned are very similar images that were produced by very different cultures. Both images were produced during the 13th Century. The image of Rathnasambhava, the Transcendent Buddha of the South was produced in Tibet during an interesting period of the country’s religious history. The branch of Tibetan Buddhism is led by a religious and sometimes political leader called the Dalai Lama. It was during the 13thRead MoreBuddha vs Jesus1672 Words   |  7 Pagesof Gautama Buddha, while Christianity is centered upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christianity is monotheistic while Buddhism is nontheistic. Christians believe that Christ is the son of God, while Buddhists do not believe in God as the creator of the universe. Buddhism dates back to Nepal, India in the 5th century BCE. The early followers of Buddhism were a community of monks called the sangha. The literal meaning of Buddhism is â€Å"those who follow the teachings of Buddha.† The teachingsRead MoreSymbolism In Buddhism : The Symbols Of Buddhism1009 Words   |  5 Pagesreligion. Buddha himself is one of the greatest symbols of Buddhism, along with many others. The elephant, the prayer wheel, the umbrella, etc. All of these symbols help display what this religious is truly about- peace, understanding, and enlightenment. Symbolism and figures of Buddhism play a big role in showing what the religion is all about as seen through the symbols of Dharma Wheel, Buddha’s Footprint The symbols in Buddhism are very important to the religion. They helped guide Buddha to findRead MoreSimilarities Between Sherlock Holmes And Buddhism1481 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"close-fitting cloth cap,† the reader will be presented with evidence that shows how Holmes both does and does not demonstrate characteristics of Buddhist philosophy and may even be a Buddha-like figure (The Boscombe Valley Mystery, 1891). This article will use the Buddhist concept of the four noble truths, characteristics of the Buddha, and the Buddhist ideas of logic and reason to determine how similar Sherlock Holmes’ personal philosophy is to Buddhist Eastern philosophy. Buddhism, which is not clearlyRead MoreEssay: Formal and Stylistic Analysis of Buddha Amit746 Words   |  3 PagesFormal and Stylistic Analysis of Buddha Amitabha Naiwen Zhang 02/10/2014 Professor Jones ! The sculpture Buddha Amitabha is a typical Sui Dynasty style art piece that represents the will of people who wish to have peace and joy. Their life goals is achieve enlightenment. Their believe of the existence of the western paradise where they will suffer no more from anything. It is also a piece of love and good fortune that was sent from the women to their family. ! Buddha Amitabha is a bronze statue thatRead MoreEssay on Asian Art Museum in San Francisco1315 Words   |  6 PagesArt Museum in San Francisco. Every first Sunday of the month, admission into the museum is free. It is my first time to visit there and I was most impressed with the huge number of Buddhas on display.  Most of the pieces are in excellent condition. It is amazing 600-year-old pottery and all these stone statues of Buddha that looks like it was made yesterday. What really brings this place to life for me are the brilliant combination of social mixers and live performance events mixed with cultural educationRead MoreThe Buddha Stands On The Crown Of The Head With A Round And Plump Face1180 Words   |  5 PagesThis Buddha has a bun-shaped fleshy protuberance on the crown of the head with a round and plump face, which has been severely weathered, leaving half of a halo behind the head. However, a sense of solemn and compassionate can still be perceived from the downward gazing eyes and the facial expression. The Buddha wears a full-shoulder kasaya with compact and specified drapery that forms into a U-shape along the axis of the body. The left hand naturally drops to hold a piece of the clothes yet the