The Origin of the Buddha Image /
:
The image of Buddha in Gandhara style depicted in the padmasana pose, is one of the most popular images of the world. This image is connected with the symbol of Buddhism apart from the Ashoka Chakra. Throughout ancient India, Buddha's image gained popularity in the formation of Mahayana Buddhism. The major question that comes forth is how this art came into being during ancient times. This small volume on Buddhist art by Coomaraswamy challenges the notion that Buddha's image did not emerge from the Indo-Greek and other non-Indian art styles like Kushana or Bactrian. He asserts that Buddha's icon and its representation in various forms, found in monuments, sculptures, and other archaeological structures, was prevalent in the pre-existing Indian art forms. The book discusses the symbolisms, necessity of Buddha's image, and anthropomorphic iconography in the creation of Buddha's icons available in early India, and talks about the differences in Indian and historicity of Gandhara and Mathura art. The author writes further that Gandhara art is Indic, and not European. This book is highly recommended for scholars and researchers interested in Buddhist art.
:
1 online resource (48 pages) : illustrations. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789004752405
When West Met East : Gandharan Art Revisited /
:
When West Met East: Gandhāran Art Revisited is based on hitherto unpublished or partly published sculptures and artefacts from Gandhāra and Greater Gandhāra dispersed in public and private collections across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Its subject is a form of figurative sculpture that emerged in the Gandhāran region between the second and fifth centuries ce and reflects regional cross-cultural elements arising from its direct relationship with Buddhism and to some extent Hinduism, as both flourished in India at the time of the Ku]sā]n Empire. The author's 'Introduction' presents the historical foundation of the innovative artistic expressions that characterize the singularity of Gandhāran art. The first chapter covers the cross-fertilized nature of the art and examines how Western artistic inspirations were transformed into new forms of art to narrate stories of Indian origin. The second chapter argues that Gandhāran artists followed the chronological sequence established in the Sanskrit Lalitavistara, or pre-existing texts which may have inspired this sacred book, when depicting the scenes of the life of the Blessed One starting with the descent of the future Buddha from Tu]sita Heaven up to the first sermon in the deer park. Singling out one particular episode in the Buddha's life, the descent from the Trāyastri`mśa Heaven to Sā`mkāśya, the third chapter focuses on the literary sources that inspired Gandhāran artists. The fourth chapter addresses the question of the first depictions of the Bodhisattvas Maitreya and Avalokiteśvara in Gandhāran art. And, finally, the fifth chapter looks at the symbolism behind the presence of Hindu gods in Gandhāran art.
:
1 online resource (452 pages) : illustrations. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789004752153