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Indian and South-East Asian Art

Explore the rich history of Indian civilization, from the Indus Valley and Saraswati civilizations to the development of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Learn about the caste system, major religions, and key cultural aspects.

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Indian and South-East Asian Art

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  1. Indian and South-East Asian Art Professor A. D’Ascoli

  2. Indian Civilization • 2500 – 1550 BCE Indus Valley & Saraswati Civilizations – built cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa • 1500 BCE – Hinduism develops • 1000 – 600 BCE – Vedic Period (Aryan Migrations) • 8th century BCE – Caste system is firmly established • 6th – 5th centuries BCE – Jainism and Buddhism appear • 563 – 483 BCE – Life of Gautama Buddha • 550 BCE – Vedas are written down by the Aryans

  3. Indian Civilization • 326 BCE – Alexander the Great invades India • 324 – 301 BCE – Chandragupta Maurya rules and establishes an Indian Empire (established by Alexander as ruler in his name) • 269 – 232 BCE – Ashoka rules – Buddhism spreads • 250 BCE – Sarnath is made capital of India • 1st century BCE – BhagavadGita is written (One of Hindu Holy Books)

  4. Caste System • Indian society is divided into 4 distinct classes or castes: • (1) Brahmins – priests, leaders, seers and religious authorities; • (2) Kshatriyas – originally the kings and warriors of the ancient past, now they are the administrators, politicians and civil authorities; • (3) Vaishyas – businessmen, merchants, traders, doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc.; and • (4) Shudras – they are the laborers, the servant class. • However, even beneath the Shudras are the Outcastes – called the ‘untouchables’ – these are members of Indian society who fall outside of any of the castes and are therefore avoided by members of the other classes completely

  5. Indian Civilization • 4 Major religions exist in India today – 3 which are indigenous • Jainism • Buddhism • Muslim • Hinduism

  6. Indian Religions - Hinduism • Origins are unknown (1500 – 500 BCE) • Hindu derives from Sanskrit word for Indus River • Hindu worship focuses on a pantheon of gods who personify the forces of nature (not an historical person or prophet) • At the center of the Hindu religion is the idea of Brahman – the indivisible essence of all spiritual reality, the divine source of all being

  7. Indian Religions - Hinduism • Brahman’s 3 functions are divided into 3 gods: • (1) Brahma – the creator – not the same as Brahman; • (2) Vishnu – the preserver; and • (3) Shiva – the destroyer.

  8. Indian Religions - Hinduism • The idea of kharma is also central to Hindi thought • Kharma means action, however the concept of kharma involves moral cause and effect (you get what you put out) • People’s accumulation of these moral actions will determine the form in which he or she will reincarnate • Because of this people’s current condition (poor, deformed, etc) is believed to have been caused by your previous misuse of your earlier existence • Ancient Hindu society reflects these religious beliefs in their caste system.

  9. Indian Religions - Jainism • The ultimate goal of Jainism is the same as in Buddhism and Hinduism – which is the escape from the cycle of samsara (the transmigration of the soul (reincarnation) • Jainism, more than any other Indian religion, focuses on self-reliance and responsibility for one’s own fate • Jainism is a very ethical faith – it emphasizes virtue, self-control and non-violence to all life forms

  10. Indian Religions - Buddhism • The historical Buddha was born Siddharta Gautama Sakya (563 – 483 BCE) and was a prince of a kingdom in the foothills of the Himalayas, in present day Nepal. He is also known as Sayakamuni (the sage) • He achieved enlightenment and then traveled the countryside preaching and educating others on the path to enlightenment. • He taught the importance of the Middle Path – rejecting both extremes – those of asceticism which only weakens the mind and the body and indulgence which obstructs wisdom

  11. Indian Religions - Buddhism • Buddha set forth the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of the dharma (religious truth or law) • The 4 Noble truths are: • (1) Life consists of suffering, impermanence, imperfection and incompleteness; • (2) the cause of life’s suffering is selfishness; • (3) Suffering and selfishness can be brought to an end; • (4) The answer to life’s problems of suffering is the eightfold Path.

  12. Indian Religions - Buddhism • The Eightfold path consists of: • (1) knowledge of the 4 Noble Truths; • (2) right aspiration to the goal of enlightenment (nirvana); • (3) right speech that is honest and charitable; • (4) right conduct – no drinking, killing, lying or having lust; • (5) right living according to the goals of Buddhism; • (6) right effort; • (7) right thinking with a focus on self-awareness; and • (8) right use of meditation to achieve enlightenment.

  13. Great Bath 2600-1900 B.C.E. Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan Architecture Oldest South East Asian city

  14. Robed Male Figure ca. 2000-1900 B.C.E. Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan Sculpture 6 7/8 in. high

  15. Indian Art • Indus Valley Seals • 3000 – 1500 BCE • Indus Valley, India • Carved in intaglio (relief sculpture) • Written language that is still undeciphered above animal designs

  16. Indian Art • Ganesha • 12th century CE • Karnataka, India • Sculpture • From Hoyshala Period when Hinduism was enjoying a resurgence • Ganesha is a Hindu god that is associated with playfulness and prosperity

  17. Indian Art • Lion Capital • 250 BCE • Sarnath, India • Architecture/Sculpture • Mauryan era – erected by Ashoka to mark a place of significance to the Buddha • As lions are powerful animals – so Buddha was a powerful teacher

  18. Indian Art • Great Stupa • 3rd century BCE • Sanchi, India • Architecture • The stupa is the central symbol of the Buddhist faith ( a temple) • These stupa contain relics of the Buddha • 60 ft in diameter and 25 ft high

  19. Indian Art • Gate of the Great Stupa • 3rd – 1st centuries BCE • Sanchi, India • Architecture/Relief Sculpture • The gate is inscribed and carved with tales from the life of the Buddha as well as stories from the epic Jataka tales • Over 30 feet high – there are 4 in total

  20. Great Stupa – detail .

  21. Chaitya Hall ca. 100 C.E. Karle, India Architecture Similar in style to Roman basilicas Large space for worshippers to congregate in

  22. Chaitya Hall

  23. Indian Art • Seated Buddha • 2nd – 3rd century CE • Peshawar District, Pakistan • Sculpture • From Kushan era • The Kushans are credited with creating the first anthropomorphic icons of the Buddha • Greco-Roman influences in robe

  24. Indian Art • Standing Buddha • 4th – 5th century CE • Mathura, India • Sculpture • Gupta Period work of art • The Buddha stands in calm serenity • Robe is sheer breaking from Greco-Roman traditions

  25. Indian Art • BoshisattvaPadmapani • 5th century CE • Ajanta Caves, India • Painting • Gupta period • The serenity in his face reflects compassion • Painted in the traditional tribhanga pose (Standing figure with a slightly s-curved body, weight shifted to one leg)

  26. Indian Art • KandariyaMahadeo Temple • 1025 – 1050 CE • Khajuraho, India • Architecture • The largest tower is over 100 feet tall • There are 84 smaller towers • Placed on a masonry platform to add to its height and promote its majesty • Full of erotic relief sculpture

  27. Indian Art • TajMahal • Agra, India • 1630 -1648 CE • Architecture • This is actually a mausoleum • Built by Shah Jahan as a tribute to his wife MumatzMahal • Islamic influence is clearly seen here

  28. Indian Art • Shiva Nataraja (Lord of the Dance) • 11th – 12th century CE • Chola, India • Sculpture • This is probably the most famous of Indian icons • Shiva symbolizes both the creative and destructive forces in the universe • A ring of fire surrounds him as his hair flies out in both directions

  29. Indian Art • Tirumala Sri Venkateswara • 16th century CE • Architecture • Tirupati, India • Temple complex covers over 2 acres of land

  30. Indian Art • Sabarimala Temple • 800-1000 CE • Kerala, India • Architecture • Series of Pilgrimage Temples where strict rules must be followed to enter • Only men, women in menopause over 50 or girls under 10 are allowed inside

  31. Indian Art • Akshradham Temple • 2005 CE • Delhi, India • Architecture • Built to represent the Hindu religion in allegory • 141 feet high

  32. Indian Art • Lotus Bah’ai Temple • 1986 • Delhi, India • Architecture • Home of the Ba’hai faith in India • Built to represent a Lotus flower • In Ba’hai faith all religions are welcome to come and worship god in whatever form

  33. Indian Art • Golden Temple (HariMandir) • 1581-1606 CE • Amritsar, India • Architecture • A spot where the Buddha and several Gurus used to meditate, it was formerly a small rock in a lake surrounded by a forest

  34. Indian Erotic Art

  35. Indian Erotic Art

  36. Southeast Asian Art

  37. Bamayan Buddhas 3rd century C.E. Bamayan, Afghanistan Relief Sculpture 150 feet tall Destroyed by Taliban

  38. Bamayan Buddhas (destroyed)

  39. Death of the Buddha (Parinirvana) 11th - 12th century C.E. Gal Virhara, Sri Lanka Relief Sculpture

  40. Cosmic Mountain ca. 800 C.E. Borobudur, Java, Indonesia Architecture400 ft. wide – you walk around each level in prayer and meditation until you reach the top

  41. Angkor Wat 12th century C.E. Angkor, Cambodia Architecture Most famous landmark and world heritage site in Cambodia

  42. Angkor Wat

  43. Towers of the Bayon 12th to 13th centuries C.E. Angkor Thom, Cambodia Architecture Similar in plan and purpose as Angkor Wat Capital of the Khmer Empire

  44. Towers of the Bayon Detail

  45. The End . .. Next lecture China & Japan

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