# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Buddhism rises in the South Asia. As we all know, this is very important to the art of the region. 

# data[].attributes.body
This stone sculpture (the Miracle of Sravasti) was made in 200 CE. I'm using it as a physical embodiment of something important (Buddhism), that will impact the art of Asia heavily in the future. The Miracle of Sravasti depicts the only miracle or "magic trick" Lord Buddha has made in his life. He had some naysayers and critics surrounding him so he showed them what he was capable of to shut them up. Author of "The Miracle of Sravasti" Kurush Dalal, goes much more in depth (with this story). You can find this art piece at the Lahore Museum in Pakistan. Now, onto Buddhism... The Vedic way of life was getting old. A craving for simplicity and "going back to the basics" began to emerge. You can look at Buddhism as a form of rebellion against the norm (in India) during the time. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who lived from 566 to 480 B.C. (an estimation). This religion has four main teachings/concepts called the Four Noble Truths. They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. There's also the Eight-Fold Path or Ashtangika Marga, which is a set of principles. The principles are: Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. One can only reach Nirvana (which is freedom from suffering)/escape Samsara (which is the cycle of death and rebirth), if they follow the concepts/principles I've mentioned. I would also like to touch on Karma briefly, it doesn't have the one-dimensional definition we give it in the West, in Buddhism. According to Buddhanet, "any kind of intentional action whether mental, verbal, or physical, is regarded as Karma".

# data[].attributes.headline
Standing Buddha Offering Protection & Gupta period (500 CE)

# data[].attributes.subject
Standing Buddha Offering Protection & Gupta period (500 CE)

# data[].attributes.body
This art piece is made of red sandstone and was made during the Gupta period (in the 5th century). This statue is about three feet tall, which indicates it was most likely put in a place of worship. It's believed that everyone had/has a unique relationship with the Buddha, especially during this time period. For example, smaller statues of the Buddha were made indicating that they were most likely put inside people's homes (to have an accessible/intimate connection with the Buddha). You can see this statue today at the Met Museum. Author of "The Gupta Period" Dr. Arathi Menon, along with many others, claim that this period the classical age of India. However, there is a lot of discourse/controversy surrounding that statement because many feel that the Maurya period should have that title. It's certain that the Gupta period contributed a lot to the art, philosophy, architecture and literature of India today. I felt it was important to include Gupta Buddhist art in this timeline because it's what set the foundation for many Buddhist artworks (what they're "supposed to look like" basically) to come (in all of Asia).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Standing Buddha Offering Protection | India (Uttar Pradesh, Mathura) | Gupta period (4th-6th century) | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mr. M. Volkart , Shanghai and Switzerland (by 1948, bequeathed to Tresoldi);; Guido Tresoldi Swiss, Lugano (until 1978; consigned to Gamma Art );; [ Gamma Art International , Vaduz, Liechtenstein, until 1979, sold to MMA ]

# data[].attributes.headline
Buddhism in China & Chan Buddhism (600 CE)

# data[].attributes.subject
Buddhism in China & Chan Buddhism (600 CE)

# data[].attributes.body
This piece doesn't seem to have an official name, it's just called "Buddha, probably Amitabha". The sculpture depicts a celestial Buddha named Amitabha, who's very relevant to Chinese Buddhism as a whole according to the Met Museum. This sculpture has a wooden core that's covered in clay and finished off with lacquer (that's made of tree resin). This Chinese dry-lacquer technique would make its way into Japan and be used for Buddhist sculptures there as well. This is symbolic to me and I'll touch on why in just a moment. The sculpture's position is important because "the Buddha’s arms indicate that the hands were once held in a gesture of meditation" (Met Museum).  I feel this piece represents Chan Buddhism perfectly because of this, since Chan translates to "meditation" (Gand). The tree resin lacquer I mentioned before is like Chan Buddhism (to me), because that lacquer would be used for creating Japanese Buddhist sculptures  eventually, right? Zen Buddhism's "mother" is Chan Buddhism, so Chan Buddhism's teachings would become Zen Buddhism teachings in Japan. If that's confusing, I'm trying to say that Japan adopted the lacquer technique from China, just like they did Chan Buddhism (Zen Buddhism).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sirén, Osvald. Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century: Over 900 Specimens in Stone, Bronze, Lacquer and Wood, Principally from Northern China. London: Ernest Benn, Ltd., 1925, vol. 1, p. 147, pl. 548.

Lerman, Leo. The Museum: One Hundred Years and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: Viking Press, [1969], p. 203.

Howard, Kathleen, ed. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1983, p. 257, fig. 39.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Asia. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1987, p. 57, pl. 31.

Howard, Kathleen, ed. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide. 2nd ed., New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994, p. 109, fig. 39.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012, p. 88.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Buddha, probably Amitabha | China | Tang dynasty (618-907) | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sirén, Osvald. Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century: Over 900 Specimens in Stone, Bronze, Lacquer and Wood, Principally from Northern China. London: Ernest Benn, Ltd., 1925, vol. 1, p. 147, pl. 548. Lerman, Leo. The Museum: One Hundred Years and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
A legendary Japanese dry garden full of mystery. It's been rebuilt quite a few times as well. The Ryoanji garden is in Kyoto, Japan and is open to visitors! 

# data[].attributes.headline
The Ryōan-ji Rock Garden (late 14th - 16th century)

# data[].attributes.subject
The Ryōan-ji Rock Garden (late 14th - 16th century)

# data[].attributes.body
The Ryoanji rock garden is probably the most famous Japanese dry garden in the world. It was built during the Muromachi period on property/land that belonged to the Fujiwara clan according to Real Japanese Gardens. Japanese dry gardens are a Buddhist artform (kare-sansui), that portray minimalism/composure (Gand). With that being said, the meaning of the Ryoanji rock garden remains a mystery. I believe that this is intentional though. Professor Gand mentions that the rocks are placed in ways that "suggest undefined possibilities". This garden could represent mountains, wild animals, infinity, I really think it's subject to the viewer's interpretation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
A realistic sculpture of a bonsai tree, this photo was taken at the Studio Seven Arts Gallery in Pleasanton, California on November 14th 2022. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Bonsai Tree Sculpture & 21st Century Asian Art

# data[].attributes.subject
Bonsai Tree Sculpture & 21st Century Asian Art

# data[].attributes.body
This nameless bonsai tree sculpture was made by Craig Kurotori, who's an artist in the bay area. I personally feel like this piece exudes elegance and serenity, the branches of this tree look so effortlessly graceful. Almost like someone posing or voguing for a fancy photoshoot. There's so much history behind bonsai trees. Bonsai is a Japanese word (that means plant in a pot), but the artform originates from China. According to bonsai tree historian Robert Baran, "by the year 700 AD the Chinese had started the art of ‘pun-sai’ using special techniques to grow dwarf trees in containers” (Bonsai Empire). Bonsai can be seen as an expression of Zen Buddhism, which is all about meditation according to Professor Gand. How? Well, taking care of a bonsai tree puts you in a mediative headspace, that headspace is so important in Zen Buddhist philosophy. This modern piece connects with all the other artworks and themes in this timeline because they all have to do with Buddhism. I believe Kurotori's sculpture is a perfect example of present-day Buddhist artwork. He's used materials that are readily available in our society (wire and beads) to make something that can last forever (just like artists that made the historical pieces in this timeline).