Buddhist Art

Front 1

Back 1

Eleven Avalokiteshvara, Tibet, 19th century
-had 1,000 hands
-how he is shown in Tibet
-11 symbolizes his principle virtues
-there are 11 desires that obstruct your path to enlightenment
-the top head is that of he Buddha he is an attendant to
-each hand has an eye in the center that represents the minds eye/insight to the inside, all seeing, true sense of understanding
-can see, understand and eliviate misery

Front 2

Back 2

Jizo aka Kshitigarba, Japan, 13th Century
-bodhisattva
-very simplified
-shown as a monk
-presides over hell
-he has a bell on his staff to announce his presence
-holds a wish granting jewel, represents spiritual wealth
-through his spiritual wealth he allows us to see beyond the material
-looks young and innocent
-women meditate to him and dress the statues
-protector figure of the young
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Front 3

Back 3

Maitreya, Pakistan, 3rd C.
-more Aryan looking
-bodhisattva, but also a Buddha
-he is the Buddha of our next life, but serves shakyamuni because he is still alive in this life
-waiting for the right moment to teach enlightenment
-dressed like a bodhisattva, but he does have some Buddha iconography like an ushnisha and a third eye

Front 4

Back 4

Shakyamuni and Prabutharathna, China, 6th C
-two figures on the same plane
-they are exactly the same
-two Buddhas
-only see P. with the other one
-Buddha of the past
-lots of drapery shows that it is northern asian

Front 5

Back 5

Amida, Japan 18th C(painting) and Amida, Japan 10th C(wood)
-Dhyani Buddhas – cosmic Buddhas: they represent an aspect of Shakyamuni
- they look exactly like Shakyamuni
-only way to tell them apart is by who is next to them
-very specific attendants accompany
-very popular in Japan
-called “pure land Buddhism”
-associated with the afterlife
-when you die you say a particular prayer and then you are reborn into paradise
-shown with two bodisttvahs who swoop in to save u

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Back 6

Hotei, 15thC, China, and 17thC. same
-reincarnation of matrea
-associated with generosity
-he is fat (generosity)
-guardian of restaurants and bars

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Back 7

Tibetan Mandala, 15thc C, Buddhist
-painting
-in the center is the Buddha that is that the center of this specific universe
-a palaces with gates around the Buddha
-all the figures change depending on who is in the center
-meant to look like palaces
-horror vaccui
-vibrant colors
-so much going on that you are focused on the center
-helps for meditation.

Front 8

Back 8

Borobodor, Indonesia, 9th Century
-body exploded into 5000 different jewels
-one in each pagoda
-looks like the Mandala,
-gates, entryway
-worlds largest stupah
400 feet on each side 100 feet tall
-on the top 72 mini stupas with buddha

Front 9

Back 9

Horyuji, Japan, Buddish, Pagoda
-northern version of s stupa