BUDDHISM RELIGION AND ARCHITECTURE

GROUP MEMBERS

IRADAT ALI AMEER HAMZA

MOHSIN ALIMUHAMMAD KHIZAR

MUHAMMAD KAZMEEN

Origins of BuddhismThe Big IdeaBuddhism began in India and became a major religion.

Main Ideas• Siddhartha Gautama searched for wisdom in

many ways.• The teachings of Buddhism deal with finding

peace.• Buddhism spread far from where it began in

India.

Quest for Answers

• Siddhartha was born a prince, but he questioned the meaning of life.

• Determined to find answers using:

• Meditation

• Fasting

• Learning from different teachers

Enlightenment

• Found it under the Tree of Wisdom while meditating

• Called the Buddha (Enlightened One)

• Spent the rest of his life traveling and teaching his ideas

Siddhartha

Religions of South Asia

Buddhism in the Subcontinent

The essence of Buddhism

The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”

2,500 year old tradition.

The 3 jewels of Buddhism

Buddha, the teacher.

Dharma, the teachings.

Sangha, the community.

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Buddha’s head 2c Pakistan

Types of Buddhism

• Therevada Buddhism

• Mahayana Buddhism

• Tibetan Buddhism

• Zen Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism• The oldest school of Buddhism.

• The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small Vehicle.”

• Found in southern Asia.

• The monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana.

• Focus on wisdom and meditation.

• Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”

• Over 100,000,000 followers today.

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism• The “Great Vehicle.”

• Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).

• Buddhism “for the masses.”

• Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise beings.

• Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.

Seated Boddhisatva –

16c

Bhutan

Tibetan Buddhism• The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]

• Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.

• A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.

• Boddhisatvas include Lamas, like the Dalai Lama.

• The Tibetan Book of the Dead[Bardo Thodol].

The DalaiLama

zen Buddhism

• The “Meditation School.”

• Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation, arriving at emptiness [sunyata].

• Use of meditation masters [Roshi].

• Beauty, art, and aesthetics:

• Gardens.

• Archery.

• Tea ceremony.

• Calligraphy.

Buddhism in America (1999)

Distribution of Buddhism Centers in the US, 2001

10th Annual western Buddhist monastic

conference

• California, 2004

Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one can escape sorrow.

Teachings of BuddhismFour Noble Truths

Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods.

People can overcome desire and ignorance and reach nirvana, a state of perfect peace.

People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an eightfold path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation.

The Eightfold Path

Ancient Ways

• The Buddha taught that following the Vedic texts was unnecessary.

• Challenged the authority of Hindu priests

Changing Society

• A more individualistic approach to enlightenment

• Rebirth as a means to evolve

Challenging Hindu Ideas

Caste System

• Opposed caste system

• The Eightfold Path could lead any individual to nirvana.

• The Buddha’s teachings reached all classes.

Buddhism branches out

Buddhism splits

• Asoka, one of the most powerful kings in India, became a Buddhist and spread Buddhism in India and foreign lands.

• Buddhist missionaries traveled the world to teach enlightenment.

• Buddhism split into two main sects: Theravada and Mahayana.

• Members of the Theravada followed the Buddha’s teachings exactly.

• Members of the Mahayana believed that individual interpretation was important.

BUDDHISM BEGAN IN INDIA AND THEN BECAME A MAJOR RELIGION

EARLY SPREAD OF BUDDHISM

ARCHITECTURE OF BUDDHISM

FEATURES OF BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

THE MAJOR ARCHITECTURE FEATURE ARESTUPAS ( EXAMPLE : SANCHI STUPA )STAMBAS ( EXAMPLE : ASHOKA PILLAR) CHAITYAS ( EXAMPLE : CHAITYA AT KARLI)VIHARAS ( EXAMPLE : VIHARA AT AJANTA)

STAMBASLOOKS COMMON TO INDIAN ARCHITECTURE STYLESSHAFTS WERE INSCRIBED AND CAPITAL WERE OF EMBLEMS OR ANIMALS.

TYPICAL BUDDHIST COLUMNS ARE OF 2 TYPES

1) PERSEPOLITIAN TYPE

- SHAFT IS OCTOGONAL- ANIMAL SCULPTURE ON CAPITAL -BASE OF THE SHAFT IS VASE SHAPED

2)GRAECO-ROMAN TYPE

CIRCULAR SHAFT WITH FLUTESTALL AND SLENDERHEIGHT OF IT IS 6 TO 8 TIMES OF THE THE LOWER DIAMETERCAPITAL WITH FLUTE VASE MOTIF

STUPA AND PAGODA

BUDDHA TEMPLE HAVE UNIQUE SHAPESWELL KNOWN SHAPES ARE THE PAGODA STYLE IN CHINA AND JAPAN

ANOTHER IS THE STUPA.

STUPA

A STONE STRUCTURE BUILT ON TOP OF RELICS(ARTEFACT, BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS ) OF BUDDHA.

THE CIRCULARITY OF THE DOME RESEMBLES THE WHEEL OF LIFE.

GRADUALLY, THE STUPA BECAME LARGER, SOON, RELIEFS OF SIDDHARTHA'S LIFE BEGAN APPEARING ON ITS OUTER WALLS.

THE WORLDS'S LARGEST STUPA RESTS ON THE ISLAND OF JAVA, INDONESIA.

ON TOP, IN MAHAYANA SHRINE A GRAND IMAGES OF

BUDDHA AND STATUES OF BODHI SATTVAS.

TEMPLESTHE DESIGN OF BUDDHIST TEMPLES ORIGINATED WITH THE STUPA.HISTORICAL VERY ORNATE INSIDE WITH GOLD AND JADE.WHILE TODAY'S TEMPLES ARE MORE MODERN.IF THE TEMPLE ISN'T DESIGNED IN THE SHAPE OF A PAGODA, THERE WILL BE A REPLICA OF ONE INSIDE.

THE TEMPLES ARE DESIGNED TO SYMBOLIZE THE FIVE ELEMENTSFIRE,AIR/WINDEARTH,WATER WISDOM/VOID

1200 YEARS OLD DA FOU SI, HONG KONG (GUANGZHOU)

BUSSY-SAINT-GEORGES, FRANCE

THE STUPA GREW TALLER AND THINNER

PAGODAS ARE EIGHT-SIDED TOWERS

CONTAIN AN ODD NUMBER OF STORIES-BETWEEN THREE AND THIRTEEN.

THE BASE OF THE STUPA IS OFTEN SEALED WITH A COPPER PLATE INCISED WITH A VISHVA-VAJRA CROSSED THUNDERBOLT DESIGN THAT IS REGARDED AS PROTECTION FROM EVIL.

STUPAS THEMSELVES WERE VENERATED AS SYMBOLS OF THE BUDDHA

FEATURES

BUDDHIST TEMPLES IS INFLUENCED BY THE ARCHITECTURE OF COUNTRY AND VARIOUS TRADITIONS FOLLOWED BY THE COUNTRY.

MANY BUDDHIST TEMPLES ARE LOCATED IN THE FORESTS AND MOUNTAINS.

- MOUNTAINS AND FOREST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH SPIRITUAL PURITY.

- BUDDHIST MONKS WERE OFTEN PERSECUTED AND REMOTE LOCATION GAVE THEM SOME SAFETY.

IN CHINA, JAPAN AND THAILAND TEMPLES ARE OFTEN IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN.

FEATURES

FEATURESREASONAL BIRTH OF BUDDHIST TEMPLE : BUDDHISM HAS RITUAL LIKE WORSHIP, BIRTH,DEATH AND MANY MORE, MONKS, NUNS CARRY THEM OUT. THROUGH TEMPLES, MONASTRIES BUDDHIST PEOPLE KEEP THEIR RELIGION LIVING.

INSIDE, TEMPLE MAY HAVE A WORSHIP HALL, MEDITATION HALL, AND GOLD WARRIOR-TYPE FIGURES, AND STATUE OF BUDDHA(SITTING IN A LOTUS POSITION )WILL BE THE MAIN SUBJECT OF INTEREST.

GREEN, ORANGE, AND YELLOW ARE USED FOR THE ROOF AND WALLS INSIDE.

DEMONS AND MONKEY GUARDIAN STATUES PROTECT THE TEMPLE FROM EVIL SPIRITS.

TEMPLE MAY HAVE A MONASTERY ATTACHED, THE MONKS ARE NOT HOUSED THERE AS IN OTHER MONASTERIES.

SYMBOLIC ART AND SCULPTURE WILL BE ON WALLS OF THE PRAYING AREASMORE DIFFERENT SIZED STATUES OF BUDDHA ARE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE TEMPLE AND ON THE ALTAR.

HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

> HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPED OVER

2000 YEARS AGO.

> FROM 1ST CENTURY CEA NEW TYPE OF WORSHIP BAKTHI (IDOL WORSHIP) STARTED

> BUILDINGS WERE CONSTRUCTED WHICH COULD HOUSE A SACRED SYMBOL FOR A PARTICULAR GOD.,WHICH IS SCULPTURAL FIGURE.

EVOLUTION OF HINDU TEMPLES:

>HINDU TEMPLE ARCH. WAS INFLUENCED BY EARLY

BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE CALLED STUPAS.

> FIRST HINDU TEMPLES WERE BUILT FROM ROCK CUT CAVES AND REPEATED THE ART FORMS OF RELIEFS.

ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT> ROCK CUT CAVE TO MASSIVE ORNAMANTAL TEMPLE.

IMPORTAT ELEMENTS OF HINDU ARCHITECTURE

> HARMONIOUS GEOMETRY.,

>SQUARE FORM.,

>GRID FLOOR PLANS.,

> DECORATIVE SCULPTUERS

*ORNAMENTATION*

SQUARE FORM*

> SPACE IS PROVIDED FOR WORSHIPPERS TO LEAVE

OFFERINGS.,PERFORM DIFFERENT RITUALS LIKE BATHING AADN DANCING ETC

THANK YOU!