Suong Nguyen
HUN192.1383
April 17, 2007
Art and Symbolism in Religion: Theravada Buddhism
“Theravada” is the earliest form of Buddhism. “Thera” means old, and “vada” means school. The word is sometimes translated as 'The Teaching of the Elders'. Its main scriptures are contained in the Pali canon, which was written in the first century BCE. It is common today to use a more neutral language to distinguish between the two main branches of Buddhism. Because Theravada historically dominated southern Asia, it is sometimes called "Southern" Buddhism, while Mahayana, which migrated northwards from India into China, Tibet, Japan, and Korea, is known as "Northern" Buddhism (Bullitt).
Buddhism is based upon the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian prince born in approximately 563 BC. Siddhartha began his spiritual quest at the age of 29 which lead 6 years later to his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya in northern India. He became known as Buddha. He lived to the age of about 80 and when he died he had a following of approximately 500 disciples. There is no God in Buddhism, rather by breaking the cycle of rebirth and achieving enlightenment Buddhists believe they will reach the state of Nirvana. It is not a place, like the concept of heaven, but rather a state of eternal being. It is the end of suffering, a state where there are no desires and the individual consciousness has come to an end.
In the earliest centuries of Theravada Buddhism, statues of the Buddha were not used. Instead, Buddhist art consisted of images symbolizing the Buddha and his teachings, such as the lotus, the Bodhi tree, the Buddha's footprints, and the Wheel of life.
“The Lotus Flower” which symbolizes both purity and enlightenment is a popular motif in much Buddhist art and architecture and is very widely used in Theravada Buddhist Art. “The Bodhi-tree” is symbolic of Buddha's enlightenment. At the age of thirty-five, the Buddha sat beneath what is referred to as the Bodhi tree and it was there where he finally achieved enlightenment. He had finally found that ineffable state of perfect bliss and knowledge. The Bodhi tree image was retained and used in many later examples of Buddhist art (About). According to Buddhist historical records, “Buddha's footprints” are one of the early representations of the Buddha in the anticonic (no statues) stage of Buddhist art. After the Buddha attained enlightenment, his feet made an imprint in the stone where he stepped. In another tradition, the infant Buddha took seven steps after his birth to symbolize his spiritual domination of the universe. The footprints of the Buddha symbolize the Buddha's presence, as they are believed to be the imprints where the Buddha actually touched the ground (Region Facts). 'The Wheel of the life" illustrates the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The wheel is held by a demon named Yama. He represents impermanence. In the center there is a cock, a snake and a pig. These symbolise the evils of desire, hatred and delusion respectively, which obstruct the way to enlightenment. Around them are five or six different sections. These show the different circumstances in which one can be reborn, depending on ones past acts, which are represented by the outside ring. These range from the carefree state of the gods to the torments of hell.
From the second century AD, Buddha began to be shown in human form. Scenes showing the life of Buddha were as popular then as they are now. Their statues and pictures of Buddha look very much the same. Posture is standard. Buddha is seen standing, walking sitting or lying down. This is because they obey strict rules set out. In Buddhist texts, from the third century AD, these cover things as the way the robes fall, the direction the hair curls and the proportions of the body. Such things are important, as Buddhist art is more than decorative. The tight curl of the hair is a sign of an important man. Buddha's long earlobes are a sign that he came from a noble family.
The sitting Buddha's right hand touches the ground. This harks back to the time, when meditating under the Bodhi tree, that Buddha was tormented by the demon Mara. Buddha called on the earth by touching it to witness his determination not to move until he had attained enlightenment. Thus that position shows that Buddha is unmoved by worldly distractions.
Whether a person is before a shrine, in his home or in the shrine room of a temple, a Buddhist will recite the three jewels and the five precepts to renew his commitment to Buddhism. People will remove their shoes before entering a temple. In the shrine room in front of an image of Buddha, they will usually bow three times with their hands together in greeting. Each bow stands for the three jewels, Buddha, dharma and sangha. They may light a candle or an incense stick, which are symbols of his enlightenment and make offerings of flowers or food, as a sign of thankfulness and respect. In addition to reciting the jewels and the precepts a Buddhist may pray, meditate or chant. Some will circle holy places in a clockwise direction. Again this is symbolic. Buddha's followers circle him in the same way that the planets circle the sun.
For thousands of years artists have sought to convey Buddha's messages through artistic forms. Painting, calligraphy, tapestry, architecture, statuary and sculpture have all contributed to the richness of the Buddhist experience.
Theravada is the oldest surviving Buddist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka, about 70% of the population, and continental Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, parts of southwest China and Bangladesh. It is also gaining popularity in Singapore and Australia. Today Theravada Buddhists number over 100 million worldwide, and in recent decades Theravada has begun to take root in the West.
Every religion contributes something to the world in general and in particular to the world of art and architecture. Religious beliefs, ideas and ideals are sometimes given visual expression and sometimes form the subject matter of art and architecture. In a sense art and architecture provide mirrors to reflect a civilization's religion. In this respect Buddhism is no exception. What Buddhism has given to the world is not only a profound analysis, and a practical solution for the problem of human suffering but also a rich legacy to the world of art and architecture. Much of this legacy is visible even today in its homeland of India and in much of the eastern world.
Works Cited
About: http://buddhism.about.com/od/theravada/ss/BuddhismSS.htm
Bullitt, John. “What is Theravada Buddhism?” Access to Insight. <http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bullitt/theravada.html
Buddhism Today: http://www.buddhismtoday.com/wallpapers/index.htm
Katinka Hesselink: http://www.katinkahesselink.net/tibet/symbols-buddha.html
Region Facts: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/practices.htm
Religion for school: < http://www.world-faiths.com/Buddhism/buddhism.htm
Religious Tolerance: http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddther.htm
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada
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