Buddhist Art and History

16 Questions

What was the original name of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism?

Prince Siddhartha

Where did Prince Siddhartha sit in contemplation and achieve enlightenment?

Under the Bodhi tree at Buddha Gaya (Bodh Gaya) near Banaras

What was the name of the park where Buddha delivered his first sermon?

Deer Park

What is the term for the path that Buddha taught to end misery in the world?

Middle Path or Nirvana

In what year did Buddhism become a religion, according to the text?

486 B.C.

Why did many people convert to Buddhism?

Because Buddhism was regardless of caste

What was the purpose of the marvelous architecture and sculptures created by Buddha's followers?

To give Buddha's teachings eternity

What was Buddha's clan name, which was also part of his title?

Shakya

Why did Buddhist monks depict Buddha's life in caves through pictorial art?

To save their lives from hostile Hindu society

What was the fate of Buddhist shrines and holy places in the 7th century A.D.?

They slowly fell into ruin

What are the two types of Buddhist art?

Gandhara Art and Ajanta Art

What does the term 'Gandhara' literally mean?

The land of fragrance

Where was the term 'Gandhara' first reported?

In the Rigveda

What was the geographical location of Gandhara?

A mountainous region located below the meeting point of the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain ranges

What was Gandhara rich in?

Water resources, dense forests, cereals, flowers, fruits, and sugarcane

What was the Indus-Oxus region divided into?

A number of small kingdoms, including Udhyana, Gandhara, Kapisa, and Bactria

Study Notes

Buddhism

Buddhism is one of the world's greatest religions, founded by Prince Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha, who discovered and taught salvation.

Life of Buddha

Buddha was born in 556 B.C. into a warrior caste (Kshatriya) family in the Nepalese foothills.
His family's clan name was Shakya, and he was called Shakyamuni, the sage of the Shakyas.
At age 29, he renounced the world to seek spiritual truth.
After 6 years of self-denial, he gained salvation (enlightenment) under the Bodhi tree at Buddha Gaya (Bodh Gaya) near Banaras.
After 49 days of meditation, he achieved enlightenment.
He preached his first sermon at the Deer Park near Sarnath to his five former companions.

Teachings of Buddha

Buddha traveled to many parts of India, teaching people about the caste system and the solution to miseries in the world.
He presented the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, also known as the Middle Path or Nirvana.

Buddhist Art

Buddhist art originated from Buddha's teachings.
There are two types of Buddhist art: Gandhara Art and Ajanta Art.

Gandhara

The word Gandhara means "the land of fragrance" in Sanskrit.
The region of Gandhara is described as a lush green or flowery area.

Geography of Gandhara

Gandhara is a mountainous region located below the meeting point of the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain ranges.
The country was rich in water resources, dense forests, and produced a variety of flowers, fruits, and cereals.
Gandhara was situated between India, Central, and Western Asia, making it a favorable location for cultural interactions.

Learn about the history of Buddhism, its decline, and the two types of Buddhist art: Gandhara and Ajanta. Understand the significance of Gandhara and its origin

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