A History of the World in 100 Objects
Seated Buddha from Gandhara
May 31, 2010
This podcast explores the evolution of visual representations in religions, focusing on the development of the classic seated image of the Buddha. It discusses the historical context of Gandhara and the symbolism behind the seated Buddha sculpture, depicting the Buddha in his enlightened state.
13:49
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Quick takeaways
- The transition from symbolic representations to depicting Buddha in human form allowed people to connect with him as a man who lived and brought about a new way of life.
- Visual representations of deities in religions like Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism emerged around the same time, establishing artistic conventions still prevalent in these religions today.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Representations of Buddha
The podcast explores the transition of Buddha's representations from symbolic to human form. For centuries, Buddha was only depicted through symbols, such as the tree under which he achieved enlightenment or a pair of footprints. However, around 1800 years ago, Buddhism began to represent Buddha in human form, starting in the Gandhara region in present-day Pakistan. This shift allowed people to see the Buddha as a man who lived and initiated a new way of looking at life. The transition to depicting Buddha as a man opened the way to the physical image of the Buddha.
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