Asian Art Exam 1 Key Terms

Type site

the first locality where a certain type of archeological data is found or the most representative instance of it

Vedas

ancient hinduism text written in sanskrit, Hinduism book

Braham

universal spirit

Castes

fixed social class someone is born into

Theravada

achieving nirvana, individual path to self enlightenment

Mahayana

enlightenment for everyone

(great vehicle) would share their wisdom

Vajrayana

• esoteric teaching & practice

• ritual and visualization

• mandalas, vajras

Buddha

Enlightened/Awakened One who taught the path to liberation.

Bodhisattva

group of divine teaching

Agamas

scriptures of Jain teachings

Mahaavira

• (great hero)

• the 24th Tirthankara always teaching abt the Jain prophets

Jina

• last Jina(the enlightened people) who show others the path

• one of the last Tirthankaras

Tirthankaras

• 24 of them

• the enlightened teachers

• practices non-detachment

Digambara

(sky clad)

• physical form of when they practice

• goes mute, gives up all possessions

Shvetambara

(white-clad)

• wear only white clothing

• spiritual side

Nimbus

a halo of light surrounding the head of a sacred figure, showing holiness or spiritual power.

Jātaka

Stories associated with the previous lives of the historical Buddha

Chaitya-griha

A Buddhist prayer hall or temple, typically with a long interior ending in a rounded apse that contains a stupa or other sacred shrine. The term chaitya is also used for the sacred shrine itself.

Vihara

monastery

Stupa

in Buddhist architecture, a dome-shaped structure
erected as a shrine and containing sacred relics

Abhaya mudra

fearlessness, reassurance, blessing, and protection

Aniconism

AKA SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION; The absence of a direct visual representation of a deity or sacred figure. In early Buddhist art, for example, the Buddha might be represented by symbols such as a Bodhi tree, an empty throne, or a set of footprints instead of a human image.

Anthropomorphism

The attribution of human characteristics, forms, or behavior to a god, animal, or object.

Circumambulation

The ritual of walking around a holy object, such as a Buddhist stupa

Contrapposto

”Set against” in Italian; used to describe the convention of representing a figure standing with most of its weight on one foot so it seems to sway gently sideways a the hips, giving a sense of movement

Continuous narrative

Multiple episodes of a story in one artwork

Darhma

teachings of the Buddha, commonly known as Buddha-Dharma

Triratna

the Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem

Urna

a curl of [fine white] hair on the forehead that is a characteristic mark of the Buddha. A symbol of divine wisdom.

Dhammacakka

the Buddhism law (Noble Eightfold Path)

Karma

the concept of “action” or “deed,” understood as that which causes
the entire cycle of cause and effect (i.e. samsara)

Moksha

“release,” is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant
suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and
reincarnation.

Monolithic

• formed a single large block of stone

• Buddha as the “lion of Shakya”

Nirvana

“blowing out” or “quenching.” It is the ultimate spiritual goal in
Buddhism and marks the soteriological release from rebirths in saṃsara.

Samsara

“continuous flow,” is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth (or
reincarnation) within Buddhism, Hinduism, Bön, Jainism, Sikhism, and other Indian religions.

Shalabhanjika

The-Tree-and-Woman

Ushnisha

a rounded shape/ a bump at the top of the head that is a characteristic mark of the Buddha. A symbol of enlightenment

Vajra

A ritual object in Buddhism and Hinduism, usually represented as a short, symmetrical, metal scepter. It symbolizes spiritual power, indestructibility, and, in Vajrayana Buddhism, the indestructible nature of enlightenment.

Avatar

incarnations; different reincarnation forms

Apsidal

curved/semicircular/”horseshoe-shaped layout

Bhakti

attachment; devotion to deities or likewise, the believers

Barrel vault

an elongated or continuous semicircular ceiling vault, shaped like a cylinder

Brahma

associated with the creation of the universe. Brahma is often depicted with four heads, representing his knowledge of the four Vedas and his ability to see in all directions.

- Remember: The Hindu god associated with creation.

Vishnu

associated with preservation, mercy, and goodness. Vishnu is believed to descend to earth in different incarnations, called avatars, to restore cosmic order and protect the world.

- Remember: The preserver and protector, who appears in different avatars.

Shiva

associated with destruction and transformation, as well as regeneration. Shiva is often depicted with a third eye, a trident, and a distinctive topknot. He may also be represented as a dancing figure, Nataraja.

- Remember: The god of destruction and transformation, who also represents renewal.

Ganesh

The elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, and the Hindu god of beginnings and the remover of obstacles. Ganesh is commonly worshipped at the start of new ventures.

- Remember: The elephant-headed god of beginnings and remover of obstacles.

Cupola

Small dome on a roof or ceiling

Garbhagriha

a small room or shrine in a Hindu temple containing a holy image.

Linga

pillar-shaped symbol representing Shiva's generative power

Mahadevi

Great Goddess, all-encompassing female deity of male deities

Padmasana

the lotus position, representing deep meditation

Rasa

(flavor) an indian aesthetic, tied to visual, music, etc.

Rajalilasana

the royal, playful position; a relaxed pose often seen in gods seated next to their female counterparts

Shikhara

mountain peak

Tribhanga

Three-bend pose creating an S-shaped curve

Abhanga

• Slightly bent, asymmetrical standing pose

• in deep thought

Cenotaph

a funerary monument commemorating an individual or group buried elsewhere

Chhatri

“umbrella,” Indian architectural element - domed, unwalled pavilions or kiosks

Charbagh

garden

Corbel

an early roofing and arching technique in which each course of stone projects slightly beyond the previous layers until the uppermost corbels meet.

Finial

Decorative element at the top or end of a structure

Minaret

a tower on or near a mosque from which Muslims are called to prayer

Mihrab

A semicircular niche in the wall facing Mecca

Qibla

the direction towards the Kaaba in the Sacred Mosque in Mecca

Moucharabieh / mashrabiya

Islamic architectural element – open latticework screens (stone, stucco, ceramic, wood); projecting balcony with windows of latticework

Spatial Recession

The indication of objects receding from a foreground into a background

Iconography

The study and interpretation of symbols, motifs, and visual elements in art, aiming to understand their cultural, historical, and contextual meanings

Ragamala

(or Garland of Musical Modes) refers to the six musical
modes, called Ragas, each with 6 or 8 variants, called Raginis (the
wives of Ragas)

Apses

semicircular recesses

Bindi

Decorative mark or jewel worn on the forehead

Company School

Indian paintings made for British and European patrons that combined traditional Indian styles with European techniques and subjects.

Indo-Saracenic Style

An architectural term for buildings that combine native Indian traditions with those of Islamic and neo-Gothic styles

International Style

A functional style of 20th century architecture that is characterized mainly by regular, unadorned geometric forms, open interiors, and the use of glass, steel, and reinforced concrete

Oculus

circular opening

Picturesque

• in painting and photography

• used to describe the ”picturelike” qualities of landscape scenes popular in the 18th and 19th century in Europe

Syncretism

european and indian artisitc traditions

Ikat

• resist dyeing technique

• tie-dye cloth

Lost-wax casting

Metal casting using a wax model that is melted away

Slip

a mixture of clay and water used to join clay elements or to decorate ceramics before they are glazed and fired

Mandala

Geometric representation of the cosmos

Dhyana mudra

gesture of absolute balance and meditation

Dharmachakra Mudra

Buddha's hand gesture representing the teaching of Dharma