Brooke McLoughlin
Introduction
The research question that I discussed during my exploration for my final project was how the depiction of the Buddha has been altered throughout different time periods and locations because of the different cultural influences. Buddhism is one of the most influential and practiced religions in the world, and like all religions, the way it is interpreted differs greatly not only between different subdivisions of the religion, but between each individual person as well. Buddhism emanates wisdom and fulfillment, and these themes have been carried throughout art and other interpretations of the religion for centuries. The Buddha is a figure that is meant to demonstrate the best characteristics of humans, and to encourage respect and well intended actions between individuals and their communities at large. The Buddha is a common figure throughout all Buddhist teachings, and his wisdom encourages all of his followers to uphold integrity and commit well intended actions. Buddhism and its key tenets, including wisdom, prosperity, and serenity, have spread across the world and have become incredibly influential and admired.
I wanted to focus my final project on the religious components of art in Asia because I find the connection between spirituality and self expression incredibly compelling and inspiring. Religion is so influential across the world, and the extent of its importance differs from person to person, but the significance of a higher power, regardless of the religion, defines cultures and creates morals and principles within cultures. The different morals and principles throughout religions are incredibly prominent in religious art pieces, and the different depictions of higher powers is very telling as to the importance of their rule over their followers. Common themes amongst religious works include wisdom, generosity, and well intended actions made by the leaders in order to encourage followers to also be well rounded and kind people. The way these gods are honored and viewed by their followers, however, differ greatly throughout the world. By studying the depiction of the Buddha, the leader of Buddhism, I was able to understand the importance of Buddhist values in the leader of the religion itself, as well as the tenets that people who practice Buddhism seek in themselves and others. Being able to understand what religion means to others in different cultures, and how spirituality affects self expression and art, has allowed me to better understand not only Buddhism, but other religions as well. Art allows people to express their true identities and ties to their cultures, religious beliefs, and their morals, and leaves a lasting impact on the world at large.
While Buddhism originated in the region that is now India, it is practiced across the entire continent of Asia, and throughout the world as well. Buddhism was able to spread so rapidly throughout the world because of the trade routes that spread throughout Asia. The Silk Road, one of the most prominent, and one of the largest trade routes in the world spread throughout all of Asia, and connected countless people, cultures, and religions. The Silk Road was the first global trade route, and allowed for the spread of religions, people and cultures throughout the continent of Asia through first person interactions. Throughout the route, Buddhist monks would build temples and stay in different locations, and would advocate heavily for the Buddhist religion and culture to the traders and people in the area. Because of the expansiveness of the trade route, and the personal interpretations of the Buddhist religion, the way Buddhism was adopted in the different regions it was preached in led to many different translations of the religion and its tenets, themes, and messages it sought to give out; however, the themes of wisdom, serenity, and rebirth remain constant throughout all interpretations of the religion. Buddhism remains one of the most practiced religions in the world to this day because of its rapid spread throughout the Silk Road. The different interpretations of Buddhism based on culture and location are very prominent in Buddhist art, and the pride rooted in Buddhism continues to be portrayed through depictions of the Buddha.
Buddha Having Dinner With Monks
Influence of goddess Tyche, Hellenistic figures, Grey schist, 1st – 2nd cent. AD, Peshawar.
In as early as the first century, Buddhism made its way over into regions such as Pakistan, just West of India, where the religion was rooted. In this piece, the Buddha is depicted amongst monks inside what seems to be a sort of temple. There is incredible detailing in the stone, from the intricate details of the temple, which allows for a sense of location and orientation in the piece, to the actual characters themselves. The remarkable detailing of the characters allows similarly for a sense of depth and three dimensionality, giving the piece life and movement, and allowing for the viewer to truly connect with the Buddha and the monks alongside him. The Buddha is depicted seated in a traditional position on the right side of the piece, with the four other monks standing beside him and all looking in his direction and gesturing to him. This gives a sense of power and wisdom to the Buddha, for the monks are all seeking his approval, advice, and recognition. Similarly, the Buddha is slightly larger than the other characters in the piece, which alludes to his wisdom and divine power. His grandeur gives him a sense of power and serenity, both of which are qualities that are very important and common in Buddhism and its teachings. The Buddha acts as a god of sorts, and the importance of his wisdom and experience are portrayed physically through his size. In contrast, his close proximity to the other characters in the scene of the piece demonstrates his humanity and relatability with his followers. In contrast to many usual depictions of gods and higher beings in religious works, which depict them usually as a sort of superior, almost unnatural being that contains all power, the Buddha has very human like qualities, which are highlighted through his closeness to the people in the piece, and the genuine interactions he is having with them, as opposed to being closed off or unreachable. The Buddha’s humanity is demonstrated through the location and positioning of his body, but his powerful and wise caricatures are the main focal points of the piece, shown through the sheer size and demeanor of the Buddha.
Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni
Kushan period, 3rd–5th century, Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara), Schist, H. 10 15/16 in. (27.8 cm), Sculpture, Credit Line: Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Ex Coll.: Columbia University, Purchase, Rogers, Dodge, Harris Brisbane Dick and Fletcher Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1987, Accession Number: 1987.218.5
Also from Pakistan, but several centuries later, is the piece titled “The Fasting Buddha.” Although it is from the same general location as “Buddha Having Dinner with Monks,” the themes and aspects of the Buddha differ greatly. In this piece, the humanistic qualities of the Buddha are highlighted, as opposed to the almost perfect demeanor of the former piece. The detailing in the rib cage, and the almost absence of the stomach highlights the pain that the Buddha is willing to endure for his cause. Additionally, the absence of a head or face, while it may be a result of centuries of being worn down through movement, alludes to the humanity and selflessness of the Buddha, and the intent of his actions- he was not fasting to gain recognition, but rather to find spirituality and connect with himself through his pain. This idea of selflessness was adopted by people who practiced Buddhism, and remains one of the key tenets of the religion to this day. Similar to the previous piece, the Buddha is shown seated in a traditional Buddhist position with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap above six monks and another smaller Buddha figure. Again, his size demonstrates the power and wisdom that is so vital to his role as the Buddha, and his crossed legged position demonstrates his balance and serenity [DL: in Buddhist iconography, the cross-legged position–here probably the padmasana or lotus pose–is often related to enlightenment, meditation or teaching]. The themes of humanity combined with power and wisdom carry over throughout the centuries in Buddhist art from Pakistan.
Giant Bamiyan Buddhas
5th-7th century, Bamiya, Afghanistan, Stone, 175 feet, NBC, De Agostini Picture Library
The “Giant Bamiyan Buddhas” are located in Afghanistan, and date back to the 5th century. The Buddha is made of stone, and is built into the cave in the Bamiyan Valley. The statue stands at 175 feet, and on it are intricate carvings and paintings that depict the Buddha and other religious connotations. The scale and prominence of the Buddha in the Bamiyan Valley demonstrates the influence that Buddhism had on the people of Afghanistan, as well as commissioners, traders, and their various cultures. The Bamiyan Valley was located along the Silk Road in Afghanistan, which allowed for Buddhism to spread so effectively into this region. In this region and culture, Buddha was depicted as a very powerful, omniscient higher being, as opposed to a realistic, personable leader that was meant for people to connect with personally. The themes of power and divinity are incredibly important in the interpretation of Buddhism in the Bamiyan culture, as opposed to relatability as shown in the depictions of Buddha from Pakistan, and in previous times. The Giant Bamiyan Buddha was visited by countless travelers and traders along the Silk Road, and they gained motivation and self realization through their spiritual awakenings with the Buddha. The sheer power and dominance that the Buddha is portrayed having demonstrates the significance of Buddhism in this area, as well as the tenets of power and wisdom that were so vital to the Buddhist religion and culture in this location.
The Buddha Shakyamuni as an ascetic
China, 1600-1700, Bronze with Gilding, 22 in x W. 18 7/8 in x D. 22 in, H. 55.9 cm x W. 47.9 cm x D. 55.9 cm, The Avery Brundage Collection- 60B189, Buddha, Shakyamuni
Buddhism continued to spread throughout Asia for centuries, and made its way into regions such as Tibet well into the 17th and 18th centuries. In the “The Buddha Shakyamuni as an Ascetic,” the detailing and shifting of mediums (from stone to bronze with gilding) allowed for a more realistic and humanlike depiction of the Buddha, which is a complete shift from the powerful, almost disconnected depiction of the Buddha in the Bamiyan Valley. In this piece, the Buddha is shown seated in a very non-traditional position- with his hands resting on his right knee, and his other leg tucked under. Traditionally, Buddha is shown seated in a very balanced, almost unrealistic position, which contrasts to his position in this piece, where he is in a very human position- with his back slightly rounded, and his legs and arms placed in an unbalanced position. The Buddha is also very slim, which detracts from his power that was so significant in previous depictions. However, this quality also gives him a sense of serenity, as well as age and wisdom, which are still very important characteristics of the Buddha. There are very human-like qualities shown on the Buddha, such as wrinkles on his skin, and folds on his clothing, which allows for the viewer to truly connect with the Buddha and his relatable qualities.
Tsongkhapa
Central Tibet, Lhasa, 1834, Appliqué using Chinese (Qing) and Russian brocades, leather, pearls, and couching threads (horsehair wrapped in silk with gold foil), 154.9 x 106.7 cm (61 x 42 in), The Alice S. Kandell Collection, ELS2010.4.91
“Tsongkhapa,” a scroll made from leather and fabrics, was also created in Tibet and dates back to the 19th century. In contrast to the other pieces from this collection, this piece is a depiction of a Buddhist monk, one of the Buddha’s devoted followers. Having a piece that depicted a real human that was so incredibly close to the Buddha brought in a sense of humanity and humility to the Buddha with his divine characteristics. The idea of connection to religion is very important in Buddhism, and by having an example of a person who had committed themself to worshiping Buddha encouraged followers to praise the Buddha, and for all people to appreciate and understand the Buddha. In this piece, the use of small pieces of fabric sewn together in order to create a very detailed and symmetrical background. Tsongkhapa, the character in the piece is shown as relatively small compared to the rest of the piece, which again demonstrates the importance of humanity and relatability in the Buddhist culture throughout the various locations and time periods. There are also two lotus flowers and a fiery sword above the character, which are representative of wisdom, a concept that has remained vital to Buddhist teachings throughout the centuries.
Timeline
The pieces are presented in a chronological order, from oldest to newest, which made sense for my presentation considering I was discussing how the depiction of Buddha had changed with time. Throughout all of the pieces, the themes of wisdom and peace were very prominent, often shown through the Buddha’s calm expression, balanced position, or grand size and demeanor. However, with time, the themes of overarching power and divinity seemed to diminish, and the themes of relatability and humanity came to the forefront of the pieces. The concept of relatability acted as encouragement for people to practice Buddhism and connect to themselves and the Buddha on their own spiritual journeys.
Conclusion
Throughout centuries, Buddhism has remained one of the most prominent and influential religions, reaching millions of people globally. The themes of wisdom, serenity, and balance are particularly important to the Buddhist culture, and are reflective in the art that was produced throughout the different cultures that the religion spread to. The Buddha has remained one of the most significant and prominent religious figures for centuries, and has impacted and continues to impact art throughout the world.
Citations
“Rubin Museum of Art.” The Rubin, rubinmuseum.org/karma-101-lessons-from-the-buddhist-wheel-of-existence/. Accessed 7 Mar. 2024.
Françoise Pommaret, “Ritual Dance Mask of Guru Dorje Drolo: Reenacting Foundational Stories as Communal Performance,” Project Himalayan Art, Rubin Museum of Art, 2023, http://rubinmuseum.org/projecthimalayanart/essays/ritual-dance-mask-of-guru-dorje-drolo.
“Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni.” Metmuseum.org, 2020, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38119.
“The Buddha Shakyamuni as an Ascetic.” Searchcollection.asianart.org, searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/3743/the-buddha-shakyamuni-as-an-ascetic.
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu. 19 Sept. 2019, matk.gr/show-item/se-asian-art-collection-museum-of-asian-art-corfu/. Accessed 5 May 2024.
“Lotus Lama.” Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, asia-archive.si.edu/exhibition/lotus-lama/. Accessed 5 May 2024.
