Buddhism

ART
appreciatio
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BUDDHISM
Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices
considered by most to be a religion and is
based on the teachings attributed to
Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as
"The Buddha" (the Awakened One), who
was born in what is today Nepal. He lived
and taught in the northeastern region of India
and most likely died around 400 BCE.
 Buddhist Thangka Paintings
 A thangka is a complicated, composite
three-dimensional object consisting of:
a picture panel which is painted or
embroidered, a textile mounting; and
one or more of the following: a silk
cover, leather corners, wooden dowels
at the top and bottom and metal or
wooden decorative knobs on the
bottom dowel.  

thangkas are intended to convey

iconographic information in a pictorial
manner. A text of the same meditation
would supply similar details in written
descriptive form.  
Buddhist Thangka Paintings
 Only rarely do thangkas express the
personal vision or creativity of the painter,
and for that reason thangka painters have
generally remained anonymous as have the
tailors who made their mountings. This
anonymity can be found in many other
cultures.  

There are, however, exceptions to this

anonymity. Rarely, eminent teachers will
create a thangka to express their own
insight and experience. This type of thangka
comes from a traditionally trained meditation
master and artist who creates a new
arrangement of forms to convey his insight
so that his students may benefit from it.
Buddhist Mandalas
 There are various forms of mandalas with
distinct concepts and different purposes.
The Cosmic Mandalas, which transmit the
ancient knowledge of the development of
the universe and the world-systems which
represents a high point among Mandalas
dedicated to meditation.
 The symbolism of meditation Mandalas
has a rich tradition. The outer form of
these so-called holy circles is a
geometrical diagram, a Yantra, and each
detail of its construction has symbolic
meaning, but there are mandalas to suit
all levels of consciousness: for the
spiritually highly developed, for average
people and for people not yet developed.
Buddhist sculpture
 Buddhas are often depicted in the
same way, despite being created
over thousands of years and
thousands of miles away:
 Seated, usually posed in a lotus
position with balls of the feet
straight up
 Elongated ears, generally frontal,
symmetrical and have a nimbus,
or halo.
 Helpers known as bodhisattvas
are usually near the Buddha,
sometimes attached to the nimbus.
Buddhist sculpture
 Buddha has many moods, but is
often depicted in a calm,
meditative look. His actions and
feelings are usually conveyed
through hand gestures called
mudras.
 The head has a top knot, or
ushnisha, with tight-fitting curls.
 A predella can feature images of
donors or teachings from his life
Seated Boddhisatva – 16cBhutan
Buddha’s head , 2c Pakistan