Art History Exam #2 Transmission of Buddhism and East Asian Art

Icon

An image of a religious figure or subject used for worship or contemplation

Pagoda

A tall East Asian Buddhist structure that contains sacred relics

Pradakshina

The ritual act of walking around a sacred place in hinduism, Buddhism or Jainism

Mudra

A symbolic hand gesture used in Hinduism and Buddhism

Mandorla

A full body halo surrounds the entire body of a sacred figure in religious art

Esoteric Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism that involves secret teachings that can only be learned through an advanced teacher

Mandala

Spiritual diagram made up of circles and squares representing the universe

Calligraphy

Decorative handwriting

Pensive Bodhisattva, probably
Maitreya (Korean Mireuk)

Three Kingdoms period, early seventh century. Korea Boddhisatva, seated in a pensive pose finger touching cheek contemplating something. Calm bright expression, elegant jewelry , indicating his staus as a bohhistava. Gilt bronze, Future Buddha Mireuk in Korean society.

Tamamushi Shrine

Hōryūji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Asuka period, c. 650. Cypress and camphor wood, with lacquer. Early Buddhism in Japan: the Hungry Tigress Jataka emphasizes compassion, sacrifice, and devotion. Asuka period early Buddhism.

olossal Vairochana and Attendants, Fengxian si (“Temple of Honoring Ancestors”)

Cave 19, Longmen, Luoyang, Henan province, China. Tang dynasty, 660–76. Limestone Vairocana Buddha the cosic buddha in Mahayana buddhism. Tang dynasty golden age of Chinese civilization, pilgrimage and devotional site. Symbolizes the unity of religious authority and imperial power while vaircona embodies the universal wisdom and comic presence of the buddha.

Illustration from the “Oak Tree (Kashiwagi)” chapter from The Tale of Genji

Late Heian period, twelfth century. Handscroll, ink and color on paper.