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Standing Buddha From Gandhara, Pakistan. Kushan period c. 2nd-3rd century ce made of gray schist

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First Depiction of Buddha c. 2nd-3rd cent ce 

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First Depiction of Buddha c. 2nd-3rd cent ce 

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The first human depiction came from the Kushan Period which is in Present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and north India. The people living here were the Kushans, one of their more prominent rulers to date from that time was King Kanishka. During this time rulers were very religiously tolerant which was how art from Jain, Brahmanic and Buddhism were able to emerge. As a result some of the first depictions of Buddha appeared not as a symbol but human real life representations. The most notable features that inspired later depictions were the robe, golden colored body, long arms, the urna, earring and many more features. The first style known was the Gandhara style. As stated in the textbook “Gandhara sculpture typically portrayed the Buddha as an athletic figure, more powerful and heroic than the ordinary human”  he was not supposed to be another sculpture of another human for the time he would be depicted as unreal, a unique figure. His power could be felt in an artwork of him just as it had been done by symbols before.

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Seated Buddha, CAVE 20, Yunggang Datong, Shanxi. Northern Wei dynasty c. 460. Stone 

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The silk road was opened during the Han Dynasty and beyond materials being transferred back and forth so were ideologies hence from India came Buddhism into China. Its acceptance was quite rapid because during the several dynasties the Chinese had experienced lots of warfare and social devastation as mentioned in the textbook. Buddhism was the light with its ideas of enlightenment during life and salvation after death. The most notable buddhist art that remained after the six dynasties were rock cut caves found along the silk roads between XInjiag and the Yellow River Valley.

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Seated Shakyamuni Buddha Seokguram Grotto, near Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Korea. Unified Silla period, c.751 CE. Granite. 

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The Silla kingdom was able to conquer Baekje in 668, with the help of China’s Tang dynasty.

The Silla period in Korea was a time when buddhism flourished as a result of China’s influence. Seokguram in particular was a buddhist temple inspired by China which was inspired by India's buddhist cave temples. The seated Shakayamuni Buddha as pictured above is seated on his lotus throne as most inspired sculptures of seated buddhas exist. In the textbook it says “Shakyamuni at the moment of his enlightenment” Again looking at the bigger picture  the influence of buddhism into buddhist art from India to China  to now Korea is a trickle effect and commonalities are similar when we pay attention to the characteristics of these buddhist sculptures such as this one that really focuses on capturing Buddha in his moment of achieving enlightenment.

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The seated Buddha Amitabha (Amida Nyorai) Materials used: Wood with lacquer and gold Date made: approx. 1150-1185 

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Buddhism to Japan from mainly China but also some Korean influence c. 1150- 1185 

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Buddhism to Japan from mainly China but also some Korean influence c. 1150- 1185 

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During the Heian period Japan was being culturally structured around the influences of China and Korea. This was a time with esoteric buddhism and its two major sects (Shingon and Tendai) played a major role in the governmental structure of the Heian kingdom. During this time there was a crossover between Buddhism and Japan’s individual ideology Shinto, as a result there was a major emphasis on being hierarchical and having deities. The main deity recognized was the universal buddha, Dainichi and he was like their version of the god the one of the universe. He was accompanied by other forms of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and benign gods beneath him. Again the focus was on the structural design of the sculpture placing an emphasis on the lotus throne a simple robe and just matching the qualities passed on by Korea and China and the original creator, India