Seated Buddha from Gandhara
Encyclopedia
The Seated Buddha from Gandhara is an early statue of the Buddha
made in Gandhara
, in modern Pakistan
, in the 2nd or 3rd century. It is now in room 33 of the British Museum
. Statues of the "enlightened one" were not made until the 1st century AD, before that Buddha was represented by aniconic symbols such as his footprint
. Like other Gandharan, or Greco-Buddhist art
, the statue shows influence from Ancient Greek art, as the region had been part of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
established by Alexander the Great.
, allowing very fine detail, even down to fingernails. The pose, which was to become one of a number of standard ones, shows Buddha as a teacher setting the wheel of Dharma
in motion (Dharmachakra Mudrā). Buddha did this following his enlightenment and after delivering his first sermon at the deer park at Sarnath
near Varanasi
in Uttar Pradesh
. The statue was made in the 2nd or 3rd century and although Buddha lived in the 4th century before Christ this is still a quite early statue. Statues of the "enlightened one" were not made until the 1st century AD. For the first four hundred years after his death Buddha was represented by symbols alone such as his footprint.
This statue was used as the inspiration of a BBC Radio 4
programme in the series called A History of the World in 100 Objects
in May 2010. The programme discussed the change that allowed Buddha to be represented by a statue instead of as previously by symbols alone.
The figure of the Buddha is shown on a cushion on a throne or platform. On the front of the throne there are much smaller figures of a bodhisattva
with a turban and halo
in a turban, flanked by kneeling figures of a male and female probably representing donor portraits of a couple who paid for the statue.
Another similar statue was sold by Christies in September 2009 for $218,500. That statue dated from the same time and place and was 26 inches high. These Buddhas are widely considered to be the rarest of all Buddhist sculptures and despite iconoclasm
, they can be found in the museums of France, Germany, Japan, Korea, China, India, and Afghanistan as well as those still remaining in Pakistan.
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
made in Gandhara
Gandhara
Gandhāra , is the name of an ancient kingdom , located in northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Gandhara was located mainly in the vale of Peshawar, the Potohar plateau and on the Kabul River...
, in modern Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, in the 2nd or 3rd century. It is now in room 33 of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. Statues of the "enlightened one" were not made until the 1st century AD, before that Buddha was represented by aniconic symbols such as his footprint
Aniconism in Buddhism
Since the beginning of Buddhist art history in the 1890s, the earliest phase, lasting until the 1st century CE, has been described as aniconic; the Buddha was only represented through symbols such as an empty throne, Bodhi tree, a riderless horse , Buddha's footprints, and the dharma wheel...
. Like other Gandharan, or Greco-Buddhist art
Greco-Buddhist art
Greco-Buddhist art is the artistic manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, a cultural syncretism between the Classical Greek culture and Buddhism, which developed over a period of close to 1000 years in Central Asia, between the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE, and the Islamic...
, the statue shows influence from Ancient Greek art, as the region had been part of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was the easternmost part of the Hellenistic world, covering Bactria and Sogdiana in Central Asia from 250 to 125 BC...
established by Alexander the Great.
Description
The statue was carved in schistSchist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
, allowing very fine detail, even down to fingernails. The pose, which was to become one of a number of standard ones, shows Buddha as a teacher setting the wheel of Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
in motion (Dharmachakra Mudrā). Buddha did this following his enlightenment and after delivering his first sermon at the deer park at Sarnath
Sarnath
Sarnath or Sārnātha is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Sarnath is located 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, India...
near Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. The statue was made in the 2nd or 3rd century and although Buddha lived in the 4th century before Christ this is still a quite early statue. Statues of the "enlightened one" were not made until the 1st century AD. For the first four hundred years after his death Buddha was represented by symbols alone such as his footprint.
This statue was used as the inspiration of a BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
programme in the series called A History of the World in 100 Objects
A History of the World in 100 Objects
A History of the World in 100 Objects was a joint project of BBC Radio 4 and the British Museum, comprising a 100-part radio series written and presented by British Museum director Neil MacGregor...
in May 2010. The programme discussed the change that allowed Buddha to be represented by a statue instead of as previously by symbols alone.
The figure of the Buddha is shown on a cushion on a throne or platform. On the front of the throne there are much smaller figures of a bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
with a turban and halo
Halo (religious iconography)
A halo is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art. They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures, and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes...
in a turban, flanked by kneeling figures of a male and female probably representing donor portraits of a couple who paid for the statue.
Similar
There is a similar statue carved from black schist at Yale University Art GalleryYale University Art Gallery
The Yale University Art Gallery houses a significant and encyclopedic collection of art in several buildings on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Although it embraces all cultures and periods, the Gallery possesses especially renowned collections of early Italian painting,...
Another similar statue was sold by Christies in September 2009 for $218,500. That statue dated from the same time and place and was 26 inches high. These Buddhas are widely considered to be the rarest of all Buddhist sculptures and despite iconoclasm
Iconoclasm
Iconoclasm is the deliberate destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually with religious or political motives. It is a frequent component of major political or religious changes...
, they can be found in the museums of France, Germany, Japan, Korea, China, India, and Afghanistan as well as those still remaining in Pakistan.