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13-09-2015, 10:57

Buddhist Art

Buddhist art in South and Southeast Asia has produced some of the masterpieces of the region. Here it is only possible to list some of the most important traditions and times before moving on to a more detailed consideration of the Buddhist art of Andhra.

• The Sunga second to first century BCE, Sanchi and Bharhut, stupas, carved gateways and railings; Bhaja and Pitalkhora, rock-cut shrines and monastic cells with relief sculptures;

• the Satavahanas second to first century BCE, Western Deccan Nasik and other rock-cut shrines, and cells, first century BCE to third century CE, Andhra, enlarged and decorated the Amaravati Great Stupa, numerous stupas, monastic complexes and highly developed art;

• the Saka-Kusana age late first century BCE to third century CE, numerous Gandharan sites of Northwest India, major built complexes containing stupas and monasteries, stone reliefs and votive objects in gold, stone, and ivory; North India beginnings of splendid Mathura tradition of stone statues of Buddha; also rock-cut shrines of Karle and other sites of Western Deccan;

• the Iksvaku and Vakatakas third to sixth century, Andhra, Nagarjunakonda, Amaravati (cont.), Ajanta painted and rock-cut caves, Vengi - strong influences on Pyu Buddhism in Central Burma;

• Imperial Gupta fourth to sixth century CE, centered in North India influenced most areas of India and mainland Southeast Asia. Sanchi (cont.), superb Buddha images of Mathura (cont.), Sarnath (cont.); post-Gupta, numerous local kingdoms under influences of late Gupta style - Aurangabad and Ellora rock-cut shrines, cells and statuary;

• Pala-Sena eighth to twelfth century CE, North and Northeast India, peak of late Buddhist culture in India, Nalanda, Paharpur, Sultanganj, Tapandighi - very strong influences on Borobodur, Sumatra, and Pagan, and received endowments from Southeast Asian as well as Indian kings, for example, for monasteries at Nalanda and repairs to the Mahabodhi temple. Pagan became the largest ancient city dominated by Buddhist stupas and temples (Figure 6).