The document summarizes key aspects of Buddhism between 500 BC and 500 AD, including that Buddha did not claim divinity, practiced meditation, and his beliefs spread throughout Asia. It also describes the development of stupas as small round burial shrines holding Buddhist relics, and the concept of bodhisattvas as those who returned to provide wisdom after ignoring or postponing death.

1. Jared Hyatt
Christopher Davis
1st block

2.  500 B.C. to 500 A.D. considered formative
period in West and East
 Seeds of modern civilization are sown
 Art, dance, and religious beliefs arise

3.  Buddha didn’t claim to be divine
 Nor did he claim to receive inspiration from
gods
 Practice meditation, focusing thoughts on
single object or idea
 Didn’t pray to higher being
 Died in 483 B.C.
 Beliefs spread throughout Asia

4.  Another important architectural form
appeared by end of second century B.C.
 The Stupa
 Small round burial shrine over a grave site,
holds relics of buddha

5.  Buddhism recognized those who ignored or
postponed death
 Those that made decision to return to give
wisdom and guidance
 This was known as a Bodhisattva

6.  Unlike western paintings, Chinese art makes
use of different vanishing points
 A point at which receding parallel lines seem
to converge
 As you unroll the hand-scroll, you find the
perspective shifts
 This gives a sense of “traveling” through the
scroll

7.  Buddha is represented by a wheel
 The wheel symbolized many things
 Circle of life, maturity, and death
 There is no known artist
 This piece was found in the Bharhut Stupa
 Pg 219, figure 10.8

8.  Pg 221 figure 10.11
 13th A.D.
 Hindu belief- human spirit is born again
 Takes form reflecting state of perfection achieved in
past lives
 Arms serve purpose
 Emphasize graceful movements
 One hand, a drum, symbolizes creation
 Another a flame, destruction
 One hand raised to protect faithful
 One points to left foot, which symbolizes escape from
ignorance represented by a person being crushed by
right foot

9.  Pg 227 figure 10.18
 A very relaxed attitude
 Mercy and compassion
 Prayers to this were answered as protection
against misfortune
 He is resting comfortably on weathered, mossy
ledge.
 Wearing splendid garments and jewels
 Seems calm and gentle, softly smiling which
shows no threat
 Encourages viewers to feel the Bodhisattva is
concerned with them, by his direct and
unwavering glaze