Introduction to Asian Arts and Philosophy

Hinduism: The Hindu Perspective Origins: 2000 BCE Brahma: The Creator Vishnu: The Preserver Siva: The Destroyer Here there is a belief that all religions are different acceptable paths to the same god…. Buddhism grows out of Hinduism but after the 13 th century-Buddhism has primarily moved from India to other parts of Asia.

Ancient India Indus seals are incised and similar to Mesopotamian seals…used for securing goods for Trade. Often depicted animals: bull/elephant/rhino/tiger…trees appear sacred here. We Even see a yogic figure position here-

Buddhism Origins: 500 BCE as a Hindu reform movement Founded by Buddha who preached charity…equality…moderation Buddha means: I AM AWAKE. Steps to the path: 1.Everything is pain 2.The origin of pain is desire 3.Extinction of desire is nirvana 4.Following the path ends all pain. When it spread to China and Japan, it became Mahayana Buddhism and Bodhisattvas emerged as enlightened ones who stayed to help the mortals….

Ancient India Ashoka was a king who spread the word of Buddha…he erected columns inscribed With laws that went deep into the ground. They were said to connect the earth and Sky forming an “Axis of the Universe”. These were installed along pilgrimage routes At sites that were important in the life of Buddha…. Figure 6-4 Lion capital of column erected by Ashoka at Sarnath, India, ca. 250 BCE. Polished sandstone, approx. 7’ high. Archaeological Museum, Sarnath.

Remains of the pillar the lion capital topped (the original “Axis of the Universe”) still standing in India.

Confucianism Origins: Confucius in the 6 th century But wasn’t until 2 nd century BCE in the Han dynasty that the Emperor established it as the official doctrine… Beliefs include: reason functions with the emotions and balance is needed to correct social ills…tradition through social structure….moral ideas should exist in all commodities so they could become habits….

Ancient China Jade was sacred in Ancient China, it was believed jade possessed magical qualities That could protect the dead. The tough, hard heavy qualities became associated With fortitude and moral perfection in the most respected people. The dragons were Believed to be good fortune as they flew between Heaven and Earth-and they symbolized The ruler’s power to mediate between Heaven and Earth. Figure 7-4 Bi (disk), from Jincun(?), China, Eastern Zhou dynasty, fourth to third century BCE. Nephrite, 6 1/2” in diameter. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City.

Ancient China This is a Han Dynasty pictorial narrative –that demonstrates the private patrons Who commissioned art with political overtones: the subject matter is mythological- But involves political events-the formal qualities are highly regimented and orderly- And the content of the stories relate to homage and loyalty…. A Rubbing from the Wu family shrine: original is a stone relief… CE Han Dynasty

In 210 BCE, Emperor Qin, the first Emperor of China was buried with more than 6,000 life-size terra-cotta figures

The warriors were cast in molds of clay and then hand sculpted-so that no two are exactly alike!

They are accompanied by horses and chariots, and they were placed outside the tomb to protect the Emperor for eternity….

They all demonstrate standard ceremonial costume and hairstyle of a Qin Dynasty cavalry-man, archer, lancer and hand-to-hand fighter…

They were originally painted by hand by some of the 700,000 laborers who worked on them. They may have looked something like this:

Purpose of the Tomb and the Warriors: To accompany and protect the Emperor in the Afterlife… To designate a sacred space that also carried the Emperor’s power into the afterlife… To further the sense of societal order and organization that was a hallmark of his reign…

Daoism Origins: Religious version emerged from ancient folk beliefs and adapted much of Buddhist ritual Philisophical version came from Laozi and Zhuangzi in the 4 th century BCE…. Submission to the Dao (or path) is key here…Retreat from society and personal development is emphasized… The Dao is the: 1.Ultimate Reality 2.Way of the universe and cannot be exhausted 3.The way of human life… The beliefs include the idea that nature should be befriended, not conquered…the individual should not struggle to compete in society….humans are at their best when in harmony with their environment…man’s part in the vastness is small…simple is better-as civilization is artificial.