ART HISTORY 208 TERM SHEET 20: INDIAN
(SOUTH ASIAN) ART
BUDDHIST AND HINDU ART
Chronology:
Indus Valley Civilization (Harappa): 27001500 BCE
Sanskrit (arrival of “Aryans”(IndoEuropeans from central Asia, after 1500 BCE)
Vedic period: 1500 BCE-late 4th BCE: books,
unity, samsara (cycle of
rebirth/reincarnation) nirvana, dharma,
karma, varna/caste
Vedic practices become “Hinduism,” which is
NOT a unitary religion
Buddha (500 BCE)
Mahavira (Jain founder), asceticism
Maurya Period (322-185 BCE): Buddhism
official state religion, Ashoka
Shungas and early Andhras; return to
regional rulers (2nd BCE to 1st CE)
Kushan period: 100 CE-300CE; Buddha
appears
Gupta period: 320-550 CE
Hindu Dynasties: til 1526 CE
Artistic Characteristics:
1) ornamentation
2) symbolism
3) vibrant quality of world intertwined w/the
divine
Seal Impressions from 2700-1500 BCE
(WORKBOOK 208)
Dual uses, yogi position
Torso from Harappa, Indus Valley Civilization,
2000 BCE (WORKBOOK 209)
architecture
TENETS/MAIN BELIEFS OF BUDDHISM
Shakyamuni Buddha (563-483) BCE; fully
enlightened one: prophecy, buddha/nature of the
world, meditation
A)
all life is suffering
B)
suffering caused by ignorance
C)
ignorance overcome & extinguished
D)
by following eight fold path of “right”:
understanding, mindedness, speech, action,
livelihood, effort, attentiveness, concentration
Types:
1) Hinayana: S. INDIA; exclusive
2) Mahayana: N.; buddhahood for all;
bodhisattvas
Yakshi Holding a Fly Whisk, Maurya Period (250
BCE): (WORKBOOK 210)
Fertility, local goddess
Contrast of hard vs. soft
Lion Capital, 250BCE, commissioned by Emp.
Ashoka (WORKBOOK 211)
imperial patronage, 272-223 BCE, dharma,
pillars, axis mundi, lotus blossom, abacus chakras:
rivers of the world, lion of the Shakya clan; wheel
Lotus Flower Symbolism
Great Stupa, Shungas-early Andhras; founded 3rd
BCE, enl. 150 BCE (WORKBOOK 212)
PATRON: Ashoka/monastery; reliquary,
burial mound, circumambulation, axis mundi,
separation of worlds; mast: desire, form &
formlessness
North Torana of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, mid
1st BCE (WORKBOOK 212)
DETAIL: Yakshi Bracket, North Torana of
the Great Stupa at Sanchi,
-compare with earlier Yakshi; eroticism
Interior of chaitaya hall, Karli, India, ca. 100 CE,
Detail of Loving Couple
(WORKBOOK 213)
-rock cut tomb, ambulatory, eroticism
Standing Buddha, Gandara, Pakistan (w), Kushan
period, 2nd-3rd CE (WORKBOOK 215)
-sanghati: monk’s robe, lakshana (32 marks
of the Buddha), urna (white hair between
eyebrows), ushnisha (topknot of hair indicates
Buddha’s enlightenment)
-similarities w/Roman art?
Mudras (symbolic hand gestures) (WORKBOOK
216)
TENETS OF THE HINDU FAITH
-group of sects developed from Vedic texts &
local beliefs
-ritual fire sacrifice
-main gods: Vishnu: dreams Cosmic order
into being
Shiva: Lord of Existence; both male
& female aspects; can be worsipped in
form of phallus; Cosmic Dance of death
& rebirth
Devi: great goddess: fertility; cosmic
energy
-escape samsara (reincarnation)
Northern/Southern style of Hindu Temples
(WORKBOOK 214)
Vishnu Temple, Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh, c. India,
530 CE (WORKBOOK 218)
-mountain/sacred space
-shikhara: parabolic superstructure
-sanctum (garbhagriha) for cult image
-imaginary axis mundi
-relief Panel on Vishnu Temple: Vishnu
Narayana on the Cosmic Waters
-dreaming universe into existence, lotus, arms
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple: Shiva, Khajuraho,
India, c. 1000 CE (WORKBOOK 222)
Early northern temple, post and lintel
construction, ornamentation
Note shikhara, garbhagriha
Sculptures: compare amorous poses to
Buddhist Karli, India, ca. 100 CE
Rajarajeshvara Temple to Shiva, Tanjore c. 1000
CE (WORKBOOK 222)
-Southern Temple, patron: Rajaraja, Chola
ruler
-flat roof, also cult statue
Dancing Shiva, 11th Century, Chola Dynasty
(WORKBOOK 223)