Buddhist Art

Pre-Iconic Phase (5th Century BCE - 1st Century BCE)

Buddhist art in India dates back to the 1st century BCE. The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya became a model for similar structures in Burma and Indonesia. Artists were hesitant to depict the Buddha anthropomorphically, developing symbolic representations to avoid doing so.

Iconic Phase (1st Century AD - Present)

Anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha emerged in the 1st century AD in Northern India. The two main centers of creation were Gandhara and Mathura. Gandharan Buddhist sculpture displayed Greek artistic influence, while Mathura tended to have a strong Indian tradition.

This iconic art was characterized by a realistic idealism, combining realistic human features with a sense of perfection and serenity.

As Buddhism Expanded Outside of India (from 1st Century AD)

As Buddhism expanded, its artistic package blended with other artistic influences, leading to a progressive differentiation among the countries adopting the faith.

Northern Buddhist Art

The Silk Road transmission of Buddhism to Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan led to the development of Northern Buddhist art. Mahāyāna Buddhism was prevalent in this region, and the artistic style was highly influenced by Mahāyāna Buddhist principles.

Afghanistan

Buddhist art in Afghanistan (old Bactria) persisted for several centuries until the spread of Islam in the 7th century.

Central Asia

Central Asia long played the role of a meeting place between China, India, and Persia. The expansion of Buddhism to the North led to the formation of Buddhist communities and even Buddhist kingdoms in the oasis of Central Asia.

China

Buddhism arrived in China around the 1st century AD, and introduced new types of art into China, particularly in the area of statuary. Receiving this religion, strong Chinese traits were incorporated into Buddhist art.

Chinese Buddhist art evolved over time, reflecting the influence of different dynasties and cultural exchanges.

Korea

Korean Buddhist art generally reflects an interaction between other Buddhist influences and a strongly original Korean culture. Additionally, the art of the steppes, particularly Siberian and Scythian influences, are evident in early Korean Buddhist art.

Japan

Japan discovered Buddhism in the 6th century when missionary monks travelled to the islands together with numerous scriptures and works of art. The Buddhist religion was adopted by the state in the following century. Being geographically at the end of the Silk Road, Japan was able to preserve many aspects of Buddhism at the very time it was disappearing in India, and being suppressed in Central Asia and China.

Southern Buddhist Art

For more than a thousand years, Indian influence was the major factor that brought a certain level of cultural unity to the various countries of the region. Theravāda Buddhism was introduced to the region around the 13th century from Sri Lanka, and was adopted by the newly founded ethnic Thai kingdom of Sukhothai.

Sri Lanka

According to tradition, Buddhism was introduced in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by Indian missionaries under the guidance of Thera Mahinda, the son of the Mauryan Emperor Asoka.

Myanmar

A neighbor of India, Myanmar (Burma) was naturally strongly influenced by the eastern part of Indian territory. The Mon of southern Burma are said to have been converted to Buddhism around 200 BC under the proselytizing of the Indian king Ashoka.

Cambodia

Cambodia was the center of the Funan kingdom, which expanded into Burma and as far south as Malaysia between the 3rd and 6th centuries. Its influence seems to have been essentially political, most of the cultural influence coming directly from India.

Thailand

From the 1st to the 7th centuries, Buddhist art in Thailand was first influenced by direct contact with Indian traders and the expansion of the Mon kingdom.

Indonesia

Like the rest of Southeast Asia, Indonesia seems to have been most strongly influenced by India from the 1st century AD. The islands of Sumatra and Java in western Indonesia were the seat of the empire of Sri Vijaya (8th-13th century), which came to dominate most of the area around the Southeast Asian peninsula through maritime power.

Legacy

Buddhism remains very active in Japan to this day. Still around 80,000 Buddhist temples are preserved. Many of them are in wood and are regularly restored.