10/23:
Hinduism: not based on the teachings of a single founder, follows the principles of the Vedras
Vedras: Sanskrit texts that might date back to 1700 BCE
Hindu: referred to those living on the other side of the Indus River or India as a whole, became a religious term during the 18th century
Neither monotheistic or polytheistic > Hinduism emphasizes Brahman
Brahman: universal spirit, manifests on Earth as the Trimuti
Trimuti: Brahma as the creator god, Vishnu as the preserver, Shiva as the destroyer
Devoted to a particular god while acknowledging the existence of others
Reaching salvation is understanding that everything is united.
Bhakti: devotion, honor, love for god
Images of gods aren’t symbols or portraits. They’re embodiments.
To worship, the practitioner and god must view each other.
Artistic stipulations: large eyes (eye contact), inhabit acceptable images, appropriate iconography and iconometry
Iconometry: system of proportions
Dharma: explains the quest for unity and reasons for why things are/should be
Caste system: societal ranking depends on one’s karma, which is related to ritual actions
Highest caste: Brahmin (priestly class, scholarly caste)
Dancing Ganesha, India, 9th-10th c., sandstone (elephant god made out of clay)
Shiva attributes: battle axe
Buddhism: originated in India as a reaction to the caste system in Hinduism, more open and fluid, more associated with other parts of Asia, has a single founder
6th Century: Prince Siddhartha Gautama (probably born in the Ganges River Valley, never claimed to be more than human, encountered 4 men who changed his way of life, lived as an ascetic for a while)
Ascetic: someone who lives sparingly and without earthly comfort
The Middle Way: not living a life of extremes, moderation
4 Noble Truths:
Life is suffering.
The origin of suffering is attachment and desire.
End suffering through detachment from desire and craving.
End suffering by seeking the middle path. Find balance.
8-Fold Path
Theravada Buddhism: closest to the earliest form of Buddhism, self-cultivation
Mahayana Buddhism: compassion as the foundation, seek enlightenment for all, recognizes other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattvas: saintly beings on the brink of achieving Buddahood, but delay their own enlightenment by helping others achieve enlightenment
Buddhist images are just symbolic.
Iconography: long earlobes because of heavy earrings, robes, Mudra (gestures), Ushnisha (skull protruding because of enlightenment)
Standing Buddha
Stupa: Sanskrit for “heap”, no interior space, burial spaces (Buddha’s buried ashes), shaped like mounds (covered up an imaginary kneeling/meditating person)
King Ashoka was the first king to embrace Buddhism. He build many stupas.
Buddhas visit stupas to perform rituals to help them on the route to enlightenment.
Dharma: moral law keeping universe from falling into chaos, no caste system
Yakshi: spirits associated with productive forces of nature
Yakshi holding a fly whisk (fly swatter), from Didargani, Patna, c. 250 BCE, sandstone
Bamiyan Buddhas were destroyed by the Taliban. They were carved into mountains. Stylistically influenced by India, Central Asia, Greece (folds in clothing)
Western Buddha > Eastern Buddha (height)
Bamiyan: between Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, near major branch of Silk Route
Buddhism was not location-specific. Worshipers didn’t need to go to temples.
Bamiyan was predominantly Muslim by the 10th century CE.
1221 - Genghis Khan attacked Bamiyan, but spared Buddhas.
2001 - Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan issued an edict calling for the destruction of all “shrines of infidels”.
Reconstructed Buddha projected in 3D in 2015
Hinduism: not based on the teachings of a single founder, follows the principles of the Vedras
Vedras: Sanskrit texts that might date back to 1700 BCE
Hindu: referred to those living on the other side of the Indus River or India as a whole, became a religious term during the 18th century
Neither monotheistic or polytheistic > Hinduism emphasizes Brahman
Brahman: universal spirit, manifests on Earth as the Trimuti
Trimuti: Brahma as the creator god, Vishnu as the preserver, Shiva as the destroyer
Devoted to a particular god while acknowledging the existence of others
Reaching salvation is understanding that everything is united.
Bhakti: devotion, honor, love for god
Images of gods aren’t symbols or portraits. They’re embodiments.
To worship, the practitioner and god must view each other.
Artistic stipulations: large eyes (eye contact), inhabit acceptable images, appropriate iconography and iconometry
Iconometry: system of proportions
Dharma: explains the quest for unity and reasons for why things are/should be
Caste system: societal ranking depends on one’s karma, which is related to ritual actions
Highest caste: Brahmin (priestly class, scholarly caste)
Dancing Ganesha, India, 9th-10th c., sandstone (elephant god made out of clay)
Shiva attributes: battle axe
Buddhism: originated in India as a reaction to the caste system in Hinduism, more open and fluid, more associated with other parts of Asia, has a single founder
6th Century: Prince Siddhartha Gautama (probably born in the Ganges River Valley, never claimed to be more than human, encountered 4 men who changed his way of life, lived as an ascetic for a while)
Ascetic: someone who lives sparingly and without earthly comfort
The Middle Way: not living a life of extremes, moderation
4 Noble Truths:
Life is suffering.
The origin of suffering is attachment and desire.
End suffering through detachment from desire and craving.
End suffering by seeking the middle path. Find balance.
8-Fold Path
Theravada Buddhism: closest to the earliest form of Buddhism, self-cultivation
Mahayana Buddhism: compassion as the foundation, seek enlightenment for all, recognizes other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattvas: saintly beings on the brink of achieving Buddahood, but delay their own enlightenment by helping others achieve enlightenment
Buddhist images are just symbolic.
Iconography: long earlobes because of heavy earrings, robes, Mudra (gestures), Ushnisha (skull protruding because of enlightenment)
Standing Buddha
Stupa: Sanskrit for “heap”, no interior space, burial spaces (Buddha’s buried ashes), shaped like mounds (covered up an imaginary kneeling/meditating person)
King Ashoka was the first king to embrace Buddhism. He build many stupas.
Buddhas visit stupas to perform rituals to help them on the route to enlightenment.
Dharma: moral law keeping universe from falling into chaos, no caste system
Yakshi: spirits associated with productive forces of nature
Yakshi holding a fly whisk (fly swatter), from Didargani, Patna, c. 250 BCE, sandstone
Bamiyan Buddhas were destroyed by the Taliban. They were carved into mountains. Stylistically influenced by India, Central Asia, Greece (folds in clothing)
Western Buddha > Eastern Buddha (height)
Bamiyan: between Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, near major branch of Silk Route
Buddhism was not location-specific. Worshipers didn’t need to go to temples.
Bamiyan was predominantly Muslim by the 10th century CE.
1221 - Genghis Khan attacked Bamiyan, but spared Buddhas.
2001 - Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan issued an edict calling for the destruction of all “shrines of infidels”.
Reconstructed Buddha projected in 3D in 2015
