South and Southeast Asia (Unit 3)

Islam

The newly-introduced religion in South and Southeast Asia that is becoming increasingly dominant

religious theme or significance

Common denominator in the majority of South and Southeast Asian art

Arians

Group that invaded the Indian subcontinent and developed the basis of the culture that would grow there

Sanskrit

The written language the Arians developed

Vedic texts

Written by the Arians. Would inform the development of Jainism, Buddhism, and eventually Hinduism

sacred subjects

The subjects that dominated the art of this region

Hinduism

Arguably the most ancient of widespread practiced religions. Predated Arians but was not codified into a formal religion until Sanskrit

the cyclical nature of human existence

What Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism emphasize. A common theme throughout sacred art in this region

Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism

The three dominating religions in South and Southeast Asia prior to 1200

inroads to India

What Islamic raiders began making as early as the year 1000

sultans

Series of these reign in Northern India by the 13th century

Indian independence from the British Empire

Event that marks a split between modern-day India and Pakistan

The Mughal Period

1500s. Islamic raiders are coming in larger numbers. Islamic rulers have established control all over India which would last until India is colonized by GB

Mughals

Comes from the Persian term for Mongols

Akbar

Very early Mughal ruler

patron of the arts

What Akbar was known for being. Put large amounts of money into new building projects and artistic products

Sufi mystic

What Akbar’s large palace complex is built in honor of

birth of Akbar’s heir

What the Sufi mystic prophesied

a private audience hall

Within Akbar’s palace complex

higher physical space

Where Akbar would sit in his two-story structure, emphasizing his control

hybrid of Indian culture with a new Islamic spirit

What came about through Mughal rule over India

emphasis on patterns and texture

Coming directly out of Islamic architecture

high

The level of decoration in Islamic architecture

separation

Done to spaces, something the Mughals borrowed from traditional Islamic architecture

heavy architecture

There’s an emphasis on this during Mughal rule. Thick, very blocky walls, with a weight to the interior

Hindu temples

Where heavy architecture is taken from. Indian tradition

diverse audience

Recognized by Akbar and catered to through his blend of several cultures’ styles

accepting

How most Mughal rulers were when it came to the diversity of religious opinions within their empire

Islamic power structure

Mughal rulers attempted to protect this while not alienating the rest of the religious practices in their empire

paper

Invented in China. Indian artists came into contact with this around the same time European artists did

walls

Where most of the painting in India was done prior to the introduction of paper

painting on paper

A practice that flourished during the Mughal period

layering of joule tones on white ground

The technique Mughal artists engineered, giving their works a bright, vibrant feel

bright, vibrant, and very detailed

Mughal painting style

contact between Persian painters and their Indian counterparts

What some of the Mughal painting style is believed to have arisen out of

intricate calligraphy

A long tradition in Islamic art (involving typography). Was blended with the new paper medium to create a unique style

Mughal painters’ names

Many were recorded, and there were lists of them with their individual styles

true painting scene

What lists of Mughal painters’ names indicated

religious figures

Banned in Islamic art, though a bit more complicated than a blanket ban

certain saints

Some schools argued that depicting these was okay, while others said there were no exceptions to the prohibition of religious figures

biography

What most Mughal rulers wrote about themselves, excluding Akbar, working with various writers and artist to ensure their legacies

Akbar Nama

The story of Akbar / his biography

Jahangir

Another major patron of the arts

painting

Jahangir’s most beloved art form, sponsored it extensively

his own royal workshop

What Jahangir established where artists would work with him

intricate details and portraiture

During Jahangir’s reign, there is an increased emphasis on these things

Nur Jahan

Jahangir’s favorite wife. Ruled for him after he was largely incapacitated

Jahangir and Prince Khurram Feasted by Nur Jahan

Features Nur Jahan in the center shown prominently with her husband. Jahangir’s son is seated to his left. A rare depiction of a woman

exchange of power

What Jahangir and Prince Khurram Feasted by Nur Jahan emphasizes

Jahangir and Shah Abbas

Reflective of political tensions between the two subjects

Afghanistan and the Kandahar region

Portions of this were being fought over by Mughal rulers

Shah Abbas

Seized back a portion of Afghanistan from Mughal authority

peace offering

What Jahangir and Shah Abbas served as for Shah Abbas

sheep

The sleeping animal that Shah Abbas is standing on indicating that he is peaceful

lion

The sleeping animal that Jahangir is standing on - the predatory animal

taller

The height of Jahangir in Jahangir and Shah Abbas

political maneuver

What Shah Abbas’s painting to Jahangir also serves as, painting himself as peaceful and arguing there is no reason to attack him

Taj Mahal (building)

Most famous Mughal architecture

Shah Jahan

Built the Taj Mahal for his favorite wife of the same name

grandeur and elegance

The Taj Mahal exemplifies these traits of the Mughal style

white marble

What the Taj Mahal’s structure is created out of, reflecting the sun’s colors throughout the day

curved domes

The part of the Taj Mahal’s exterior noted to be lovely at sunrise and sunset

reflecting pool

Laid before the Taj Mahal building which reflects light

glowing/shining

The effect the Taj Mahal has through its reflective properties

paradise

The Taj Mahal’s feel is a reference to descriptions of this found in the Qur’an

garden design

The presence of these in Islamic architecture are clear nods to descriptions of paradise in the Qur’an. Very important to Islamic art and architecture

inlay of the Taj Mahal

Inlaid with floral patterns and calligraphy from the Qur’an all made of precious and semi-precious stones

outside decoration

On the Taj Mahal, this is very much in keeping with Islamic traditions, similar to the decorations on the Dome of the Rock

cenotaph

A funerary monument for someone whose body is not physically present in the space

crypt below

Where the bodies are actually buried beneath the cenotaph

Taj Mahal interior

Still the same emphasis on abundant decoration, precious stones, and semi-precious gems as on the outside

local Hindu Princes

What many of the territories outside of Northern India were ruled by. Paid homage to the Mughal ruler in some way

local rulers

Where local politics were delegated to. An understanding of the massive empire the Mughals were running

Rajput paintings

Works done under the auspices of Hindu rulers. Not created through Islamic commission

Rajput Prince Warriors

Where the name Rajput came from. Various warrior princes who exercises local control over several parts of India

Rajput painting

A blending of Mughal with pre-existing indigenous styles and subject matter

Hindu subject matter and greater abstraction

The two elements that distinguished Rajput painting from Mughal painting

Bhakti

Hindu devotional movement that inspired poetic works

love between gods and humans

What a lot of the Bhakti movement focused on. A reflection of this

Gita Govinda

Inspired by Hindu myths

Krishna

symbol of emotional states

How color is used in the gouache paintings of Krishna and Radha

blue

The color that represents Radha in both pieces. Represents her jealous state watching Krishna converse with other women

red

The color that represents Krishna in both pieces

Punjab region

Where the other regional style that flourished during the Mughal period originated from

other regional style

More closely followed Mughal paintings compared to Rajput. Much more naturalistic and delicate. Still Hindu in subject matter

Christian Vishnu

Illustrated playing a flute in The House of Cowdust

The House of Cowdust

Features several iconographical attributes associated with Vishnu

iconographical elements of Vishnu

Flute that enchants whoever hears it, peacock crown, yellow garment, and blue skin

The Raj

“Rule.” Established by Great Britain in 1858 after colonizing India by force

westernization of India

What the colonization in India led to

gothic revival style

The style new buildings the British built after they arrived were in. The style the British were interested in at the time

Victoria Terminimus

Train station built by the British in the gothic revival style

greater indigenous style

Crept into colonial architecture as time went on

Gateway of India

Meant to welcome King George IV on his visit to India

Arch of Titus

What the Gateway of India takes direct inspiration from. Roman triumphal arch

blend of Hindu and Islamic art

The use of floral design, stone screen, caps on towers, lattice work, and a distinctive arched opening in the Gateway of India

Westernized and traditional

The two artistic styles from the Raj

Varna

In keeping with new British style and adopted a westernized one

mimicking western techniques and subject matter

What Varma’s work is now criticized for post-colonialism despite its popularity during his lifetime