Author Topic: Buddha Iconography  (Read 7642 times)

Jhanananda

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Buddha Iconography
« on: April 12, 2013, 04:42:00 PM »
I have been examining Buddhist Iconography for what can be used by the GWV.  I am not at all fond of the fat Pureland Iconography, nor am I particularly drawn to Tibetan Iconography.  If Western Buddhism is going to make it, then it needs to come up with its own Iconography; however, to get there, we will need to examine Asian influences.

This is a typical Tibetan Buddhist Icon.  Note the hair.  The Buddha is typically expressed as bald in a Theravadan context.  Also, note the halo.

The following images are all Persian, and note they all have hair.

Note the halo.

This one even has a mustache

note the halo.

All of the above Persian Buddhist statues also have the Greek classical period wet drape motif.
« Last Edit: May 02, 2013, 11:29:35 PM by Jhanananda »
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Jhanananda

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Re: Buddha Iconography
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2013, 11:39:26 PM »
Sitting Buddha











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Jhanananda

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Re: Buddha Iconography
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2013, 11:45:25 PM »
Reclining Buddha










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Jhanananda

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Re: Buddha Iconography
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2013, 12:05:04 AM »

A 6th century Viking Buddha

Quote from: Wiki
Helgö is an island in Ekerö Municipality in Stockholm County, Sweden. Helgö is an island situated in Lake Mälaren. The island's greatest width is about 1.5 km, it is about 5 km long and covers 48 hectares. [1]

Excavations at Helgö

The island is perhaps best known for a major archaeological area. The old trading town on Helgö began to emerge around the year 200 AD, 500 years before Birka at Björkö. The first archaeological dig in 1954 uncovered the remains of the early settlement, including a workshop area which attracted international interest. The most notable finds included a small Buddha statuette from North India and a christening scoop from Egypt, both dating from the 6th century. The Indian Buddha statuette, the Irish crozier and the Egyptian scoop which were found on Helgö, are presently on display in the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm. [2][3]
« Last Edit: May 03, 2013, 12:09:51 AM by Jhanananda »
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