AP ART HISTORY ARTWORKS Katherine Guzman 1
Required Works: 1. LONGMEN CAVES a. VAIROCANA BUDDHA, MONKS, AND BODHISATTVAS b. VAJRAPANI 2. GOLD AND JADE CROWN 3. TODAI-JI a. GREAT BUDDHA b. NIO GUARDIAN STATUE (2) c. GATE 2
Tang Dynasty! A high point in Chinese civilization: a golden age of cosmopolitan culture! Contributed a lot to the development of astronomy, medicine and printing technique in Chinese history! The most glorious cultural achievements during this period were the distinguished Tang Poems and arts! Cultural exchange between China and many foreign countries was frequent! There were mainly two traditional religions - Buddhism and Daoism! Buddhism is a religion or philosophy that surrounds a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha, also known as the Buddha 3
LONGMEN CAVES! Luoyang, China! Tang Dynasty 493-1127 CE! Limestone cliffs! Place of worship for the Buddhist religion! Buddhist stone statues, stupas, and inscriptions carved on steles! 3 caves total but only one was completed! One third of these cave sculptures belong to the Northern Wei Dynasty and two thirds to the Tang Dynasty 4
Longmen caves! Extends for almost a mile containing about 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles with more than 800,000 people working on the caves! Carved Northern Wei Style! Began with the reign of emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei dynasty and continued through the Tang dynasty! The ceiling is designed with a lotus flower! Greek influence in their thin faces and robes 5
Caves known as The Central Binyang Cave, The Northern Binyang Cave, and The Southern Binyang Cave 6
VAJRAPANI! Luoyang Henan Province! Tang Dynasty 673-675 CE! Limestone! Spiritual guardian that wields the thunderbolt! Symbolizes spirit and spiritual power! Facial expressions and posture engaging and animated like! Wrathful warrior pose 7
! His loin cloth is made up of the skin of a tiger, whose head can be seen on his left knee! His outstretched left hand brandishes a vajra (symbolizing knowledge)! His right hand holds a lasso, with which he binds demons! Around his neck is a serpent necklace! One of the 3 protective deities of Buddha! Believed to be a guide of Buddha and symbolizes his power 8
VAIROCANA BUDDHA, MONKS, AND BODHISATTVAS! Luoyang, China! Tang Dynasty 493-1127 CE! Limestone from carved rock relief! Northern Wei style! 17 meters high (Buddha)! Created after generous donation from the empress Wu Zetian! Built in the Old Sun Cave (biggest cave of all) 9
! The central image contains Sakyamuni Buddha and bodhisattvas and attendants on either side! Images in the cave also have carvings of the artists names, dates, and reasons for carving! Area in front of the Buddha in which people would pray to him 10
Silla Kingdom! Was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the world's longest sustained dynasties! The dynasty was ruled by Gyeongju Kim! Buddhism religion diffused from India through China to Korea and eventually Japan! It was officially adopted by the Silla Kingdom in 527, and transformed the Silla society and culture, which influenced the creation and use of the gold items that used in this culture! One example of this is the Gold And Jade Crown : 11
Gold and jade crown! Silla Kingdom, Korea! Three Kingdoms Period 5 th -6 th century CE! Metalwork (gold and jade)! Used in ceremonial rites! Practiced shamanism, and the royalty held the ceremonial rites and rituals! The gold crowns emphasized the power of the wearer through their precious materials and natural imagery 12
Gold and jade crown! Tree-shaped crown (daegwan) is the headband type found in the south in royal tombs at the Silla capital, Gyeongju! The three tree-shaped vertical elements leads people to recall the sacred tree that once stood in the ritual precinct of Gyeongj! Attached to the branch-like features of the crown are tiny gold discs and jade ornaments called gogok ( jade ornaments symbolizing ripe fruits hanging from tree branches, representing fertility and abundance) 13
Todai-Ji! Nara, Japan! 743 CE and rebuilt 1700 due to a fire! Bronze and wood (sculptures)! Wood with ceramic tile roofing (architecture)! Unkei and Keikei! Great Eastern Temple 14
! One of the great temples of Nara! Buddhist monks and craftspeople! Commissioned by emperor Xiao Mu! When creating the temple, every one in japan had to pay a tax for its construction! Influence of style from China and Korea! Built to house the cosmic Buddha, associated with the sun! The new temple is only two thirds the size of the original 15
Bronze lantern from the original site of the temple. 16
Great Buddha! Nara, Japan! 743-752 CE! Bronze! 50 meters high! Commissioned by Emperor Shomu! Located in the Great Buddha Hall of the temple! Also rebuilt again due to fire/ earthquakes! Seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is guarded by two Bodhisattvas! Religious rituals for peace and prosperity 17
Buddha's Pedestal! Bronze lotus petal pedestal that is engraved with images of the Shaka (historical Buddha)! The petal surfaces contain images of figures with swelling chests, full faces, and swirling drapery! On the lotus petals on the base of the Great Buddha are engravings of the World of the Lotus Treasury, pictorial representations of the world of enlightenment! They are representations of the notion that each individual is not an isolated existence, but that all phenomena have limitless connections and dimensions and that the entire universe is enveloped in the light of Vairocana s wisdom 18
Nio Guardian Statues! Nara, Japan! 1203 CE! Cypress wood! 8 meters tall! Unkei and Kaikei! Protectors against evil spirits! Ungyō has his mouth open, symbolizing life! Agyō has his mouth closed, symbolizing death! Rikishi and Kongo Ungyō Agyō 19
! The open-mouth version of the guardian is commonly placed to the right of the temple, while the closed-mouth version is to the left! The Niō s fierce and threatening appearance were said to ward off evil spirits and keep the temple grounds free of demons and thieves! The Niō were said to have followed and protected the historical Buddha when he traveled throughout India! Mouth open to scare off demons! Closed to shelter/keep in the good spirits! One is masculine with mouth tightly closed! The other is feminine with mouth open! Ungyō stands on the left and carries a thunderbolt stick while Agyō is on the right with a saber 20
Todai-Ji Gate! Nara, Japan! End of 12 th century! Wood! Great South Gate! Nandaimon Gate! Two tiered roof! Holds the two guardian kings! Original gate was destroyed by a typhoon during the Heian Period! Daibutsu style 21
Bibliography! Stokstad (all required works)! Khan Academy (all required works)! http://www.sacred-destinations.com/china/longmen-caves (Longmen Caves)! http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1003 (Longmen Caves)! http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/koreas-golden-kingdom/aboutthe-exhibition/treasures (Gold and Jade Crown)! http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4100.html (Great Buddha)! http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/birushana.shtml (Great Buddha)! http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/nio.shtml (Todai-Ji)! http://sbarnhill.mvps.org/japan/attractions/todaiji.htm (Todai-Ji)! http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/nara-todaiji (Todai-Ji) 22