Art Narrative

Question 1

What does art tell us about in buddhism?

Answer 1

The life of the Buddha from birth to death

Question 2

What pieces are featured on stupas?

Answer 2

Art pieces that focus upon the life of the Buddha

Question 3

Where can art pieces be found?

Answer 3

On stupas

Question 4

Are these pieces which are featured on stupas large?

Answer 4

No because it was believed they were a part of something more and did not need to be large

Question 5

Where do art historians believe the pieces were located on the stupas?

Answer 5

At the base

Question 6

What would monks/lay people do at a stupa?

Answer 6

Circumambulation

Question 7

What is circumambulation?

Answer 7

It is the circling of a stupas clockwise in order to attain merit

Question 8

What is circumambulation a form of within Mahayana Buddhism?

Answer 8

Giving

Question 9

Where would the slabs be whilst you were circumambulating at the stupa?

Answer 9

They would be at your eye level so you could read the life of the Buddha as you a attained merit

Question 10

Are there stupas today?

Answer 10

No, because they had been raided, dug out and their materials used for other means

Question 11

What are art narratives within Buddhism usually focused upon?

Answer 11

The life of the Buddha

Question 12

What is there to their art work?

Answer 12

A symbolic element

Question 13

Name an example of a textbook which primarily features art work on the life of the Buddha

Answer 13

The pictorial biography of sakyamuni Buddha

Question 14

Who believed that an illustrated biography would arouse the interest of youngsters?

Answer 14

Rev. Sing hung

Question 15

Who did rev. Sing hung believe the pictorial biography of Sakyamuni Buddha would peak interest for?

Answer 15

Youngsters as they could have pictures to look at and relate information to - it is far more interesting and engaging

Question 16

What would the pictorial biography of Sakyamuni Buddha serve as?

Answer 16

A textbook in elementary Buddhist studies

Question 17

What would the pictorial biography of Sakyamuni Buddha teach?

Answer 17

It would teach on the life of the Buddha

Question 18

Who translated the pictorial biography into English?

Answer 18

Prof. Z.a. Lu

Question 19

Why was the pictorial biography translated into English?

Answer 19

Because they wanted to teach Buddhism to westerners

Question 20

Why did they want to teach westerners on the life of the Buddha?

Answer 20

Because it was widely unknown and the British were discovering Buddhist sites, excavating them and not knowing what they were uncovering

Question 21

Who would an introduction on the basics of Buddhism appeal to?

Answer 21

Western people as it can peak interest and teach them everything they need as a basis

Question 22

What events are featured int he biography?

Answer 22

Events from birth to death

Question 23

How are the events of the Buddha presented within the pictorial biography?

Answer 23

They are presented with pictures and a short description on what is happening in each

Question 24

Name 3 examples of Buddhist art

Answer 24

Stupas
Textbooks
Manga

Question 25

What puzzled art historians?

Answer 25

The use of bodhisattva as they thought they were referring to someone else

Question 26

How was the Buddha represented before full representations?

Answer 26

Through signs

Question 27

What signs were used to depict the Buddha?

Answer 27

A wheel A tree Footprints

Question 28

What is the wheel a representation of?

Answer 28

The wheel of the dharma and the teachings the Buddha presented to his people

Question 29

What is the tree a sign of?

Answer 29

Either enlightenment or birth - the Bodhi tree at enlightenment and the tree his mother clung to whilst giving birth

Question 30

What did art representations change from and to?

Answer 30

They changed from mere symbols to full representations

Question 31

What is full representations of the Buddha known as?

Answer 31

Aniconic art

Question 32

Why were they not allowed to do full representations of the Buddha in art form?

Answer 32

It was inappropriate because full art depictions could lead to a attachment and prevent individuals from attaining enlightenment as they are too focused on the Buddha as a physical representation

Question 33

What do art depictions connect?

Answer 33

Auspicious signs and the narrative tradition

Question 34

Who played an importance in the development in Buddhist art?

Answer 34

Sakyamuni Buddha

Question 35

What does art connect to?

Answer 35

Soteriology

Question 36

Was the development of Buddhist art a gradual process?

Answer 36

Yes because they went from symbols to full representations

Question 37

What influences some of the art?

Answer 37

Greek influences

Question 38

Why are there Greek influences to the art work?

Answer 38

May have something to do with the invasion of Alexander and his attempt to take over India

Question 39

Are there differences between art pieces? And why?

Answer 39

Yes there are differences between art pieces based on the times they were made and why they were made

Question 40

What do different time frames mean for Buddhist art features?

Answer 40

That many do the same episodes and miracles will be represented in different ways