Buddhist Art and Architecture
High in the isolated valleys of the Himalayas in Nepal and Tibet, Buddhist monks adapted Buddhism to the native Tibetan mystical religion known as Bon. The local religious leaders, known as lamas (meaning “none superior”), considered themselves the reincarnation of earlier deceased lamas and Buddhist bodhisattvas. The chief lama, the Dalai (meaning “ocean”), was believed to
be the reincarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment of compassion in this new form of Buddhism. Enlightenment, not simply nirvana, is the goal of this version of Buddhism, generally known as Mahayana, and the vow of every bodhisattva is to help others achieve enlightenment before they themselves cross over into paradise.
Among the artistic expressions of this faith were rolled-up cloth paintings, known as thangkas. As monks traveled from one monastery to another, they would unroll thangkas as aids to instruction. Painted on the thangkas were images representing Buddhist figures of authority, including lamas, bodhisattvas, and the Buddha himself, which, the Tibetans believed, were manifest in their images. The thangka reproduced here (Fig. 11.6) represents Manjushri, a bodhisattva associated with a great historical teacher. Thus, the thangka not only symbolizes wisdom, it makes Manjushri’s wisdom present.
In Myanmar, Anawratha, the first king of the Bagan Empire (r. 1044–77), was a devout Buddhist. His capital at Bagan became a center of Buddhist learning, attracting monks from across Southeast Asia, especially from India, as Muslims gained control of the subcontinent. There he built the Shwesandaw Paya, or “Sunset Pagoda,” in 1057 (visible in the far distance at the middle right, Fig. 11.7), a five-terraced structure topped by a circular bell-shaped stupa that, legend has it, contains the hairs of Buddha. Here, Buddha was manifest, present to the pilgrim circling the stupa in search of enlightenment. For the next two centuries, until Bagan was overrun by the army of Kublai Khan in 1287, Anawratha’s heirs built more than 13,000 temples, pagodas, and other religious structures, of which some 2,200 temples remain standing.
High in the isolated valleys of the Himalayas in Nepal and Tibet, Buddhist monks adapted Buddhism to the native Tibetan mystical religion known as Bon. The local religious leaders, known as lamas (meaning “none superior”), considered themselves the reincarnation of earlier deceased lamas and Buddhist bodhisattvas. The chief lama, the Dalai (meaning “ocean”), was believed to
be the reincarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment of compassion in this new form of Buddhism. Enlightenment, not simply nirvana, is the goal of this version of Buddhism, generally known as Mahayana, and the vow of every bodhisattva is to help others achieve enlightenment before they themselves cross over into paradise.
Among the artistic expressions of this faith were rolled-up cloth paintings, known as thangkas. As monks traveled from one monastery to another, they would unroll thangkas as aids to instruction. Painted on the thangkas were images representing Buddhist figures of authority, including lamas, bodhisattvas, and the Buddha himself, which, the Tibetans believed, were manifest in their images. The thangka reproduced here (Fig. 11.6) represents Manjushri, a bodhisattva associated with a great historical teacher. Thus, the thangka not only symbolizes wisdom, it makes Manjushri’s wisdom present.
In Myanmar, Anawratha, the first king of the Bagan Empire (r. 1044–77), was a devout Buddhist. His capital at Bagan became a center of Buddhist learning, attracting monks from across Southeast Asia, especially from India, as Muslims gained control of the subcontinent. There he built the Shwesandaw Paya, or “Sunset Pagoda,” in 1057 (visible in the far distance at the middle right, Fig. 11.7), a five-terraced structure topped by a circular bell-shaped stupa that, legend has it, contains the hairs of Buddha. Here, Buddha was manifest, present to the pilgrim circling the stupa in search of enlightenment. For the next two centuries, until Bagan was overrun by the army of Kublai Khan in 1287, Anawratha’s heirs built more than 13,000 temples, pagodas, and other religious structures, of which some 2,200 temples remain standing.
Buddhist Art and Architecture: Borobodur Temple in Magelang, Central Java - Indonesia Tourism, 4:40
Video Buddhist Art and Architecture: Borobodur Temple in Magelang, Central Java - Indonesia Tourism Borobodur temple is the largest Buddhist monument in the world. Built during King Samaratungga of Wangsa dynasty in 824. Borobudur was built 300 years before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 400 years before the great cathedrals of Europe. Borobudur has an area of 123x123 m² with 504 Buddha statues, stupas overlay 72 and 1 main stupa. Gupta beraksitektur form this temple that reflects the influence of India. After a visit here you will understand why Borobudur has appeal for visitors and an icon of Indonesia's cultural heritage. International agencies of the United Nations recognizes as well that UNESCO praised the Borobudur Temple as one of the largest Buddhist monument in the world. In this temple there in 2672 relief panels that when arranged in rows, the length reaches 6 km. Ensemble relief is the most complete in the world and incomparable artistic value and each scene is a complete masterpiece. Borobudur consists of 1460 relief panels and 504 stupas but actually there are 160 panels are intentionally dumped at the very bottom, contains scenes Silk Karmawibhangga (causation). There is also stating that the accumulation of the lower part to strengthen the foundations early on found has been severely damaged. Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles found in 1814 Borobudur in damaged condition and ordered that the site be cleaned and studied thoroughly. Borobudur existence was already known locals in the 18th century where previously buried material of Mount Merapi. Today Borobudur is one of the wonders and treasures precious Indonesia and the world.
Buddhist architectures are really interesting . More posts should be made on these.
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