Download South, Central, East, and Southeast Asian Art Vocabulary:

South, Central, East, and Southeast Asian Art
Hinduism, Buddhism, and the arts of Korea, China, and Japan
Essential Questions:
How do religious beliefs shape regional identities, architecture, and the arts of the cultures
within Asia?
How do trade and politics connect Asian art to West Asia and Europe?
How do courtly and secular art differ from religious art?
What similarities are there in the treatment of the figure and natural imagery?
Art of Hinduism:
202 Shiva as Lord of Dance (India) (Fig. 1531)
200 Lakshmana Temple (India) (p. 452)
199 Angkor Wat (Cambodia) (Fig. 15-36,
15-37)
Art of Buddhism:
192 Great Stupa At Sanchi (India) (Fig.15-1,
15-9, p 442)
182 Buddha (Afghanistan)
184 Jowo Rinpoche (Tibet)
195 Longmen Caves (China) (Fig. 16-16)
197 Todai-ji (Japan) (Figure 17-11)
198 Borobudur Temple (Indonesia) (Fig. 1533)
Korea:
196 Gold and Jade crown (Fig. 16-29)
205 Portrait of Sin Sukju
China:
193 Terra Cotta Warriors (Fig. 16-1)
194 Funeral Banner of Lady Dai (Fig. 16-6)
204 David vases (Figure 33-5)
201 Travelers among Mountains and
Streams (Fig. 16-22)
206 Forbidden City (Fig.33-1, 33-6, 33-7)
212 Chairman Mao en Route to Anyuan
Japan
207 Ryoan-ji (Figure 34-2)
203 Night Attack on the Sanjo Palace
(Fig.17-19)
210 White and Red Plum Blossoms
211 Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Fig.3413)
Vocabulary:
Hinduism:
Shiva
Vishnu
Mithuna
Darshan
Puja
Buddhism:
Bodhisattva
Mudra
Ushnisha
Urna
Predella
Yaksha/yakshi
Torana
Mandorla
Iconography: lion,
wheel, lotus,
columns,
throne
China & Korea:
Colophon
Confucianism
Daoism
Hanja
Literati
Yin / Yang
Pagoda
Japan:
Genre painting
Yukiyo-e
Haboku
Yamato-e
Tarashikomi
Zen
Tea ceremony
Hinduism, Buddhism,
and the Religious Context of Japan, China, and Korea
Hinduism: belief that meditation and reason, along with the selfless fulfillment of everyday duties, can
lead to the ultimate absorption in the godhead
Basic Beliefs:
- three main gods (Brahman – Creator, Shiva – Destroyer, Vishnu – Protector)
- evil will be eradicated
- universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation, and dissolution
- karma – the law of cause and effect
- reincarnation – soul evolves through many births until all kharmas have been resolved and
miskha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained
- all life is sacred
- four basic castes
§ elite: Brahman (priest)
§ Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers)
§ Vaisyas (merchants and farmers)
§ Shudras (laborers)
Buddhism: nontheistic philosophy where freedom from suffering leads to enlightenment
Basic Beliefs:
- all existence implies sorrow, and the cause of sorrow is attachment to work and self – which
causes rebirth
- attachment can be dissolved through the elimination of desires
- the end of the cycle of rebirth can be accomplished by following the eightfold path
- ultimate enlightenment – nirvana – complete understanding of the universe
- four noble truths:
§ life brings suffering
§ desire for pleasure, power and immortality are the roots of suffering
§ suffering ceases when desiring ends
§ desire ends via the Noble Eightfold Path of right view, intention, speech, action,
livelihood, effort, awareness, and concentration
Japanese religions:
- Pure Land Buddhism – a sect of Buddhism that teaches one can go to the Western Paradise
after death simply if one has faith in Amida Buddha and recites “Namu Amida Butsu” with
complete belief
- Zen Buddhism – sect of Buddhism which means literally “meditation” and teaches that attaining
enlightenment can be achieved through one’s own efforts and self-discipline aided by direct
teaching by a master of Zen
Chinese Religions:
- Daoism – a philosophy that addresses one’s relationship to the natural world and emphasized
the belief that one must live in harmony with “the way” – the belief tha earth, nature, and the
cosmos all are in harmony. It is also concerned with the “right path” and ways to achieve
longevity.
- Confucianism – a hierarchical and conservative philosophy that was used frequently for
controlling state affairs in China, Korea, and Japan. It teaches about right conduct and correct
relationships (between ruler and country, father and son, husband and wife, etc) This philosophy
emphasizes importance of society over the individual
Korean Religions: heavily influenced by China and incorporate Confucian, Buddhist, and local
shamanistic beliefs