Buddhist Art and Architecture

1. Buddhist Art and Architecture By: Madison Poehlman

2. Viharas A Vihara is the Buddhist equivalent of a monastery. Viharas were originally built to be a place of sanctuary for travelling monks. For this reason, they are usually found along trade routes, but old and new. Most are open to the public, but they are considered to be somewhat “sacred”, though they function as places for peace instead of places for praying. Because they have been built over the course of centuries, the exterior design differs amongst them. Some are simple looking buildings, others involve wood carvings and colorful paint, such as the one to the right, and some are earth bermed into the side of cliffs and hills.

3. Viharas (Continued) Because the Buddhist religion is so old and so widely expanded, no one knows which Vihara was the first, and therefor it is impossible to know what the country of origin is. The oldest still-standing Viharas are estimated to have been built around the second century BCE. Below: A large outdoors Vihara and meditation space. Right: A modern Vihara.

4. Temple of the Emerald Buddha As its name suggests, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is a temple, but the quality that sets it apart from others is the statue of the Buddha inside of it. The native name of this temple is WatPhraKaew, and it is known as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is located in PhraNakhon in Bangkok.

5. Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Continued) The Buddha is believed to have been sculpted a mere five centuries after Siddhartha attained ultimate enlightenment. It was sculpted in India by an unknown artist, and it found its home in the Temple in 1782, where it has remained since. The temple is open to the public, but no one is allowed to touch the statue except for the Thai King, who changes its cloak with the changing of the seasons. The statue is only twenty six inches tall, but it is one of the most revered depictions of the Buddha. It was carved from a single jade stone. It was carved in the meditating form of the Northern Thai monks.

6. Works Cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Phra_Kaew http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-temple/wat-prakaeo.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vihara http://www.saranaloka.org/ajahns/ajahns.html http://www.buddhistvihara.com/ http://www.panix.com http://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/attractions/watphrakaew.php http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/628714/vihara