Art an Architecture of South and Southeast

Asia after 1200

Buddha “Awakened One”A Buddha is a being that has achieved Enlightenment

(who has achieved the ability to understand the true nature of all things) and has been released from samsara.

Samsara: birth, disease, death, decay

The historical Buddha is Siddhartha. (b. 563 BCE).

The Four Noble Truths:

Life is suffering (suffering = rebirth)The cause of suffering is desireThe cause of desire must be overcomeWhen desire is overcome, there is no more suffering (rebirth)

Seated Buddha, (Earth Touching Gesture), late ninth or early tenth century.

First Sermon, late tenth or early eleventh century.

Mahayana (Greater Vehicle)

The goal is rooted in the teachings of the historical Buddha, but seeks salvation for all beings. This attitude is embodied in the idea of the

bodhisattva whose outstanding quality is compassion.

BodhisattvaAn enlightened being who has achieved Buddhahood, but chooses to

remain in the temporal world to assist others

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, twelfth century, (height 10”).

Vajrayanadiamond path

(Mantrayana: incantation vehicle)

prayer wheel

prayer drums(from Nepal in the Kathmandu Valley)

The most popluar matra is of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara:

om mani

padmehum

Bla ma (Llama).

Cambodia

Great Stupa at Sanchi, third century BCE.

plan of Borobudur.

Maya Riding to Lumbini. Link to UNESCO video.

Jayavarman VII in Meditation,twelfth-thirteenth century.

Buddha Muchalinda, twelfth century.

Aerial view of Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat (Temple City).

Angkor Wat

Restoration of Angkor Wat

The Bayon, Angkor Thom complex

Bayon, Angkor Thom, 12-13th c.

Bayon, battle relief.

Bayon, the tower

Angkor Thom, the west gate.