INDIA
India—“Old Buddhism”—Fifth to First Centuries
B.C.E.
During the first 500 years of Buddhism, simple
metaphors portrayed the teachings of the Buddha,
such as the wheel, the empty throne, the Tree of
Enlightenment.
1 Wheel of Dharma
The dharmachakra, or wheel of righteousness,
i.e., Buddha’s teachings, conceived as a wheel
rolling across the land
2Empty Throne
The throne where the Buddha taught the
dharma remained after his Parinirvana.
Mahayana Buddhism—First to Fifth Centuries C.E.Buddhism began to change in its second 500
years, with portrayals of the actual Buddha in paint,
sculpture, and stucco. The Buddha and additional
figures, Bodhisattvas, began to be treated as deities.
Beginning in India, this was the form in which Bud-
dhism traveled to East and SE Asia.
3Ajanta Bodhisattva
Sensuous fresco of a Bodhisattva in Cave 1 at
Ajanta. Note crown, earrings, bracelets, and
necklace of a prince who has halted at the edge
of enlightenment.
4Head of Shakyamuni
Siddhartha Gautama, the Indian prince who
achieved enlightenment and became known as
the Buddha. Earliest images in Greco-Buddhist
style from Gandhara. Note topknot, half-lidded
eyes, and elongated earlobes of an ascetic.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Hinayana (Theravada) Buddhism—Third Century B.C.E. to Fifth Century C.E.
Ashoka’s conversion and missionizing spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, and ultimately to SE Asia in its ear-
lier form emphasizing the original Buddha and monasticism.
5 Sukhothai Buddha
A sinuous Thai Buddha from the early king-
dom of Sukhothai, fourteenth century C.E.
A flame coming out of his topknot indicates
spirituality.
6, 9 Various Yakshas
Minor local deities protect Buddhist places
7 Khmer Buddha
The cult of god-kings (devarajas) portrayed the
king as a Bodhisattva, dressed in Khmer royal
style. He is seated on a coiled snake, a protec-
tor of Buddhism.
8 Devotee
Human and angelic beings with hands clasped
in worship of Buddha.
EAST ASIA
Mahayana—Third Century C.E.
Monks take Buddhism to Central Asia, and Chinese monks travel to India seeking texts. New portrayals
of the Buddha emerge, inspired by Greco-Roman styles of Gandhara.
10 Arhat
Sixty-one enlightened followers of the Buddha
attained magical powers.
11 Amida Buddha (Amitabha)
The Amida Buddha of the Pure Land School.
The daibutsu (“giant Buddha”) at Kamakura is
43 feet high.
12 Laughing Buddha
A tenth-century Chinese monk named Pu-tai
(Hemp Sack) claimed to be an incarnation of
Maitreya, revered as the “Laughing Buddha.”
13 Miroku (Maitreya)
Contemplative Bodhisattva, the Buddha of the
future. Korean.
14 Fierce Guardians
Warriors protect the sacred places of Buddhism.
15 Sleeping Buddha
The 51-foot Buddha in Parinirvana, from Dun-
huang Cave 158. One of the principal portray-
als of the Shakyamuni.
16 Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara)
This compassionate Bodhisattva escorts souls
to Amida in the Pure Land. Over several centu-
ries the Indian Avalokiteshvara slowly turned
into the female Guanyin. In languid pose
known as “royal ease.”
TIBET
Vajrayana—500 C.E.
17 Avalokiteshvara
The patron Bodhisattva of Tibet. In pose of royal ease on a lotus pedestal, with royal adornment.