asian arts

exam study guid

aniconic 1

making holy art withaught showing human body or faces 1

avatar 2

a god that turned into a person or animal 2

brahma/brahman 3

brahma- a specific creator god with a body and face

brahman- an invisible formless spirit of the universe 3

brahmin 4

preset or scholar form the highest social class 4

chaitya 5

ancient rock cut out into a buddhist praying hall

chattri 6

small dome shaped pavilion used to decorate roofs that feature royal memories

continuous narrative 7

telling a story in art form of a single character

Ganesh 8

hindue elephant headed god of wisdom

garbhagriha 9

innermost room where sac aid deity statue is kept

gropura 10

monument tower gateway at the entrance of a hindu temple

indo saracenic 11

mashup building style created by British artist in 1800

jataka 12

stores of past animals/humans before becoming buddhas

JINA 13

spiritual conqueror who beat inner flaws like anger greed and despair

karma 14

universal law of cause and affect

krishna 15

hindu god of love and joy

lakshanas 16

sacred body signs that identify holy

lakshmi 17

goddess of wealth and fortune

linga 18

piller shaped stone symbol of the hindu god shiva the represents creative power

mandala 19

circle art work that maps out the universe

mandapa 20

outdoor hall pillars attached to hindu temple where people gather for ceremonies

mandapa 21

temple used for community gatherings

mihrab 22

ornamental arched niche built into th interior wall of mosque

minaret 23

tower where prayers are announced

mithuna 24

painting of loving couples represents cosmic harmony

mudra 25

hand gesture to know what a god is feeling teaching or doing

orientalism 26

how poeple from the west painted the east in their backward fantasy

qibla 27

the precise direction that muslims face during ritual prayer

samsara 28

cycle of birth life and death

saptamatrika 29

7 powerfull worriers mother goddesses carved

shiva

hindu god of destruction and regenerating the universe to keep the cycle of time moving

torana

ceremonial gateway marking the entrance to a secret site such as a temple

urna

a sacred dot or jewel in the hair that represents spiritual awakening

ushinsha

a cranial bum on the buddhas head that represents supreme wisdom and spritual enlightenment

vihara

living quarters for monks

sutras

collection of spiritual teachings

vishnu

is a hindu that preserves and protects the universe maintaining cosmic balance

bodhisattva

a compassionate holy being who has reached enlightenment but chooses delay buddahaood to help other people

dharma

universal moral law to keep the universe in balance