Buddhism (fojiao 佛教)

Organizing questions:

Why would Buddhism hold political appeal within a historical context of division and political uncertainty?

How was a foreign religious and artistic tradition made Chinese?

Concept: appropriation

Origins, terms and tenets of Mahayana Buddhism:

Sakyamuni (Shijiamouni 释迦牟尼 ): An honorific name for the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who was a member of the Sakya clan

Buddha (fo 佛):   enlightened being

karma:   moral actions which result in positive consequences.   It is because of previous wrong actions that misfortunes befall a person.

reincarnation:   cycle of rebirth

dharma (fa 法).   The Sanskrit term for the teachings or “law” of the Buddha and by extension the Buddhist faith and community in general

sutras (jing 經):   Buddhist holy texts

Bodhisattva (pusa 菩萨):   an enlightened potential Buddha, devoted to the spiritual progress of others

Political Context:

From the end of the Han in 220 until the reunification of the country by the Sui in 581 China experienced a tumultuous and often violent history, a period of division. Among the many dynasties of this period are:

Northern Wei:   北魏 Turkic -origin dynasty called the Tuoba or Tagbatch, ruled north China 4th-6th century CE (356-543)

Northern Qi:   北齐 ruled 550-577

Iconography [see Sakyamuni Buddha, Northern Qi c. 550-77.   Polychrome limestone, H:   47” (1.19 m) (fig. 5-1)]

mudra:   symbolic hand gestures

• abaya mudra “fear not,” meaning of protection, benevolence, and peace, right hand held up with palm facing out, left hand down with palm out (see figs. 5-1, 5-12, 5-15)
• dhyana mudra, meditation gesture, hands in lap (see Colossal Buddha at Yungang, fig. 5-11)
• vitarka mudra, “teaching” mudra, hands in “okay” position, right up and left down
• dharma chakra mudra, also “preaching” mudra, hands in okay position, held together close to chest

unisa: lump on skull symbolizing spiritual power

fly whisk :   this represents obedience to the Buddhist law:   by using this to sweep away insects instead of swatting them, it has become a symbol of the compassion of bodhisattva towards all beings.

Sources for Chinese Buddhist imagery?

•  Matura, India

•  Gandhara, Central Asia

Early Buddhist Sites dating to the Northern Wei:

Yungang 云冈石窟 “Cloud Ridge” Caves, Datong 大同, Shanxi Province, Cave 20, north wall overview of Colossal Buddha. Sandstone.   H:   40' Mid-5th century (fig. 5-11)

cf. Standing Buddha.   Late 5th century.   Gilt bronze; h:   55” (fig. 5-12)

Longmen 龙门石窟 “Dragon Gate,” Binyang temples 宾阳, Henan Province

Empress as donor.   Relief removed from Binyang chapel (now in the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City).   Limestone, H:   6'4” (fig. 5-17)

Songyue Pagoda 嵩嶽寺塔, Songshan 嵩山, Henan Province, c. 520-24 CE.   H 132' (39 m) (fig. 5-14)

Comparison with Sanci stupa in India and Han-dynasty watchtower