BUDDHIST ART

Buddhist art originated in the

Indian subcontinent in the
centuries following the life of
the historical Gautama
Buddha in the 6th to 5th
century BCE, before evolving
through its contact with other
cultures and its diffusion
through the rest of Asia and
the world.
Buddhist art traveled with believers as the dharma spread,
adapted, and evolved in each new host country.

Dharma – cosmic order or law.

 Mandala
◦ Mandala art is a geometric design that
holds a great deal of symbolism in
Hindu and Buddhist cultures.
Mandala art is a Sanskrit word for
“magic circle”.

◦ It represent different aspects of the

universe and are used as instruments
of meditation and symbols of prayer.
TYPES OF MANDALAS

1. Teaching Mandala
It is symbolic, and each shape, line, and color of
teaching mandalas represent a different aspect of
a philosophical or religious system.
2. Healing Mandala
Healing Mandalas are made for
the purpose of meditation and
intended to deliver wisdom, evoke
feelings of calm, and channel focus
and concentration.
3. Sand Mandala
These intricate designs use
various symbols made from
various colored sand which
represent the impermanence of
human life.
Buddhist Artworks
Gal Vihara

Gal Vihara is a temple

constructed in the 12th
century with carved rock
relief sculptures.
 Wat Pho
Also known as the Temple of
the Reclining Buddha, Wat
Pho is a temple in Bangkok,
Thailand, dating from the 16th
century.
Ayutthaya Buddha Head

An image that embodies

Buddhism’s relationship to
nature, the Ayutthaya
Buddha is also a marker of
Buddhist history.
Stupas Borobudur Temple
A vajra is a ritual weapon
symbolizing the properties
of a diamond and a
thunderbolt. The vajra is a
type of club with a ribbed
spherical head.