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Mica Oszczakiewicz Michelle Jubin Objects as History 24, October 2013 There are definitely certain visual elements that reoccur in objects connected to systems of belief. Two systems of belief that have been a part of my upbringing and adult life are Christianity and Buddhism. These two belief systems have been major focuses of study throughout different periods of my life and have also found their way into the curriculum of my Objects as History Course. Visual symbolism is a reoccurring visual element in Christian and Buddhist objects. There also happen to be many congruent symbols that exist in both Catholic and Buddhist objects such as personification and the use of hand gestures. Personification shows up in many objects in both Buddhism and Christianity. At the Cloisters, there are tapestries that hang in one of the many rooms with depictions of a unicorn hunt. The unicorn is said to be a symbol for Christ within these tapestries and other christian objects. In these specific tapestries, the unicorn hunt is symbolizing the crucifixion of Christ. In Buddhist objects, the Buddha is personified as a tree repeatedly. The stupa of Borobudur is a good example of this personification because there are many depictions of the Buddha as a tree on the walls. At the Rubin Museum of Art, there are also many example of animal symbols in Himalayan Buddhist art. Some pieces show rats and snakes as symbols for wealth and greediness, where as elephants are incorporated into other pieces as a symbol of strength of mind. Similarly in Christian objects, the lamb, the fish, and the dove are symbols for the Holy Trinity. Not only can personification be seen as a reoccurring symbol in both Christian and Buddhist objects, but so can the implementation of hand gestures as symbols. Hand gestures appear as a visual symbol in objects in order to inform the audience of meanings the exist within said objects. In many Buddhist sculptures that Mica Oszczakiewicz Michelle Jubin Objects as History 24, October 2013 depict the historical Buddha he is shown to have his right hand pointing downward toward the earth in the ‘earth-touch’ gesture and his left hand in his lap in meditation gesture. There were many sculptures that fit this description at the Rubin Museum of Art. The earth-touch gesture is a symbol for the moment that the Buddha was enlightened and defeated the army of Mara beneath the bodhi-tree and called upon the earth to bear witness to his accomplishments. His left hand in the meditation gesture symbolizes the stability of the buddha’s meditative state. Hand gestures are also used as visual symbols in Christianity. In the specific type of statue called a ‘Throne of Wisdom’ statue, of which there are many at the Cloisters, both Jesus and Mary are depicted with powerful hand gestures in many examples on display. In one particular Spanish example of a Throne of Wisdom statue at the Cloisters, Baby Jesus is shown with his hand held up with his thumb and first two fingers extended while his last two fingers are closed. This hand gesture is the symbol showing that Jesus was saying something important or giving the word of the Lord. Mary’s hand was shown holding and apple which is a symbol of the fall of man which is the reason humans were in need of redemption. When the apple is placed in the hands of Mary, it symbolizes that she is the second coming of Eve. Even though Buddhism and Christianity are vastly different systems of belief, it is interesting that there are visual elements that happen to be very similar throughout both. The implementation of visual symbols such as personification and hand gestures in both Buddhist and Christian objects is thought-provoking. It leads to the question of whether these occurrences are merely coincidental or if they have reason behind them. Because the similarities are so congruent and there are so many examples of the same symbols Mica Oszczakiewicz Michelle Jubin Objects as History 24, October 2013 in both Christianity and Buddhism, it is safe to say these instances are not simply a coincidence but a trend in systems of belief.