kushanas

The ​Kushan Empire​ was a syncretic empire, formed by​ ​Yuezhi​, in the​ ​Bactrian​ territories in the
early 1st century.
● It spread to encompass much of​ ​Afghanistan​, and then the northern parts of the​ ​Indian
subcontinent​ at least as far as​ ​Saketa​ and​ ​Sarnath​ near​ ​Varanasi​ (Benares), where
inscriptions have been found dating to the era of the Kushan emperor​ ​Kanishka the
Great​.
● Emperor Kanishka was a great patron of​ ​Buddhism​; however, as Kushans expanded
southward, the deities of theirlater coinage came to reflect its new​ ​Hindu​ majority.
● possibly​ ​Iranian​ or​ ​Tocharian​,​ I​ ndo-European​ nomadic people who migrated from the​ ​Tarim

Basin​ (modern​ ​Xinjiang​) and settled in ancient​ ​Bactria

● A direct road from​ ​Gandhara​ to China remained under Kushan control for more than a century,

encouraging travel across the Karakoram and facilitating the​ ​spread of Mahayana Buddhism​ to

China

● While much philosophy, art, and science was created within its borders, the only textual record

of the empire's history today comes from inscriptions and accounts in other languages,

particularly Chinese

● The Kushan empire fragmented into semi-independent kingdoms in the 3rd century AD, which

fell to the​ ​Sasanians​ invading from the west

● In the 4th century, the​ ​Guptas​, an Indian dynasty also pressed from the east.

● The last of the Kushan and Sasanian kingdoms were eventually overwhelmed by the

Hepthalites​, another​ ​Indo-European people​ from the north

 Kanishka . Mathura Museum

1. Fort at Bathinda​ (​Qila Mubarak​), in the modern city of​ ​Bathinda​, Indian​ ​Punjab​.

2. summer capital in​ ​Bagram​ (then known as Kapisa), where the "Begram Treasure", comprising

works of art from Greece to China, has been found

MATHURA SCHOOL

● A​ ​Buddhist​ ​stupa​ was excavated in 1968, but in February 1985 a rich treasure of 117 beautiful

carved stone slabs,which includes 69 pillars, 35 crossbars, figures and figurines, was

excavated by the experts of the​ ​Directorate of Archaeology​, Punjab.

● ​ ushan​ sculptures of the​ ​Mathura​ school of the 1st and 2nd

Scholars have explained them as​ K

centuries AD.

● These treasures have since been displayed for art lovers and historians in​ ​Sanghol Museum​.

Many of the art pieces from this museum often go on display as special exhibits at various

museums around the world.

● Mathura​) is a city in the​ ​North​ ​Indian​ ​state​ of​ ​Uttar Pradesh

● Mathura is the birthplace of​ ​Krishna​ at the centre of Braj or Brij-bhoomi, called Shri
Krishna Janma-Bhoomi, literally: 'Lord Krishna's birthplace'
● the city is mentioned in the oldest Indian epic, the​ ​Ramayana​.
● The city was later ruled by the​ ​Maurya​ empire (4th to 2nd centuries BCE) and the
Shunga​ dynasty (2nd century BCE). It may have come under the control of​ ​Indo-Greeks
some time between 180 BCE and 100 BCE. It then reverted to local rule before being
conquered by the​ ​Indo-Scythians​ during the 1st century BCE.
 ● Mathuran art and culture reached its zenith under the​ ​Kushan​ dynasty which had
Mathura as one of their capitals, the other being Purushapura (​Peshawar​)

GHANDARA SCHOOL

● Gandhāra​ is the ancient term for the city and old kingdom of​ ​Peshawar​,
● its capital city was​ ​Charsadda​, but later the capital city was moved to​ ​Peshawar​ by the
Kushan​ emperor​ ​Kanishka the Great​ in about 127.
● (c. 1500-500 BC). As a center of​ ​Greco-Buddhism​,​ ​Bactrian​ ​Zoroastrianism​ and
Animism​, Gandhara attained its height from the 1st century to the 5th century under the
Kushan​ Kings.

Head of a bodhisattva, ca. 4th century

Gandhara's culture peaked during the reign of the great Kushan king​ ​Kanishka the Great
(128–151).
● Gandhara's culture peaked during the reign of the great Kushan king​ ​Kanishka the Great
(128–151). The cities of Taxila (Takṣaśilā) at Sirsukh and Peshawar were built.
Peshawar became the capital of a great empire stretching from Gandhara to Central
Asia
● Kanishka was a great patron of the Buddhist faith; Buddhism spread
● Under Kanishka, Gandhara became a holy land of Buddhism and attracted Chinese
pilgrims eager to view the monuments associated with many​ ​Jatakas​.
● In Gandhara,​ ​Mahayana Buddhism​ flourished and Buddha was represented in human
form. Under the Kushans new Buddhists ​stupas​ were built and old ones were enlarged.
Huge statues of the Buddha were erected in monasteries and carved into the hillsides.
● Kanishka also built a great 400-foot tower at Peshawar. This tower was reported by
Chinese monks​ ​Faxian​,​ ​Song Yun​, and​ ​Xuanzang​ who visited the country. This structure
was destroyed and rebuilt many times until it was finally destroyed by​ ​Mahmud of Ghazni
in the 11th century.
Casket of​ ​Kanishka the Great​, with Buddhist motifs

Greco-Buddhist​ statue of standing Buddha, Gandhara