Art and Artistic Expression in Buddhism
Images of the Buddha did not exist in the first early centuries of Buddhism; instead, artist would uses symbols such as the eight-spoked wheel, which is originated from the Eightfold Path (which represents all the fundamental Buddhist teachings).
Though there are still some magnificent examples of Tibetan temple wall paintings, they are rather scarce. In older centuries, most of the painting mediums included a canvas made out of cotton cloth, or even more rarely on silk, which was called scroll painting. These scroll paintings are usually mounted in frames of silk brocade with a pole or batten at the top and bottom so that it can be easily hung; since it can easily be rolled up, the paintings can be stored away or readily transported from once place to another. As for sculptures, mediums used include metal, clay, stucco, wood, stone, and butter. These are all used in the creation of sculptures; although metal is most common because of small, portable, bronze images of a great variety of meditation deities are most frequently encountered. Nonetheless, clay and stucco (fine plaster) have been used since older times, specifically in the creation of very large sculptures mounted in monasteries and temples. Wood is also widely used especially in architecture; it is windingly carved for entrances to temples and for pillars. Clothing: Traditional Buddhist generally wear robes. The Sankrit word for these robes is civara; wearing a civara is the beginning of a monk's four traditional requirements. Monks are never to enter a village without wearing all three parts of their robes, which include: an inner robe, from the waist to the knee, an upper robe around the torso and the shoulders, and an outer robe used as and over garment. |
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Works Cited:
"Buddhist Art and Architecture: Tibetan Buddhist Art." Buddhist Art and Architecture: Tibetan Buddhist Art. Buddha Dharma Education Association, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
"Buddhist Art and Architecture: Tibetan Buddhist Art." Buddhist Art and Architecture: Tibetan Buddhist Art. Buddha Dharma Education Association, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.