Download Buddhist Iconography

Buddhist Iconography
Images in Buddhism are very complex, and can be read in many ways depending on the context; the country, the
sect of Buddhism, and sometimes the artists’ own aesthetic tastes often shape how to interpret these symbols –
especially when it is the image of the Buddha himself. Images in Buddhism have been used as a way to teach
followers how to practice rituals, the story of Buddha’s life (one of the most common images depicts the Buddha
giving his first sermon) and past lives, and beliefs of Buddhism. Some statues of Buddha are very large, topping
around 100 feet, and these reflect Buddha’s extraordinary qualities but they also act as a huge advertisement to
attract new followers. Images of the Buddha can all be seen as a way for followers to “embark upon a visual
pilgrimage.”
There are so many Buddharupas, images of the Buddha himself, that you would think you need a book to interpret
them. Thankfully, the basic iconography in India, Thailand, China, and Japan, has stayed pretty consistent.
Anthropomorphic images of the Buddha are believed to have developed in India during the 1st century, about four
hundred years after the Buddha’s recorded birth. Scholars aren’t sure why it took this long and debate about the
significance of this is quite common, but the development of the Buddha’s image is believed to correspond with and
draw from other anthropomorphic images and influences in Jainism and Buddhism. Before this there were probably
stone carvings of Buddha’s life and teachings, but few of these have survived. The first images of Buddha fall in
two categories; the first is similar to images of Indian deities and the second has Hellenistic, Greek and Roman,
imported by Greeks living in the area during Alexander the Great’s time.
Images of the Buddha all share these characteristics:
 Monks clothing
 Shaved hair
 Body markings
 A limited number of hand positions
 A limited number of body positions
Buddhism in China
Buddhism was imported to China via the Silk Road and became popular for a time after the Han Dynasty fell,
probably because it stresses the impermanent nature of life. It was always at odds with Confucianism, which
emphasized social order and permanence, and was later targeted by it. After the Communist revolution, all religions
were discouraged but Buddhism was particularly attacked during the Cultural Revolution and has very few
followers in China today.
Chinese Buddhist Iconography
There are two very popular Bodhisattvas, a being who is dedicated to helping others reach nirvana, in China. First,
there is Kuan-yin, the Chinese Bodhisattva of compassion. Another popular one is Budai, a happy looking figure,
sometimes called “the laughing Buddha”, with a large protruding belly who spreads good cheer to adults and
children. Taoism actually uses a variation of this image to express contentment.
*There are other differences in Buddhist iconography but these are mostly found in the Vajrayana sect of
Buddhism practiced in Nepal and Tibet.
Works Cited
1. Brown, Robert L. "Buddha Images" Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Ed. Robert E. Buswell, Jr. Vol. 1. New
York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 79-82. 2 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Thomson Gale. NEW TRIER
HIGH SCHOOL - District 203. 6 June 2007.
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/galenet/winn16583?cause=http%3A%2F%2Ffind.galegroup.com%2Fgvrl%2Finfomark.do%3Fac
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=temp&type=session&sserv=no
2. Kinnard, Jacob. "Iconography: Buddhist Iconography" Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Lindsay Jones. Vol. 7. 2nd
ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005.
3. Pannyavaro. “Symbolic Hand Symbols” and “Eight Auspicious Symbols”. Buddha Dharma Meditation
Association Inc. 1996. Buddha Dharma Education Association. 10 June 2007.
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/symbols.htm