Asian Art History

Day 1 :

Architecture

StupaIndia

• Definition: Buddhist religious monument; mounds were originally made of mud or

clay to cover supposed ashes and relics of the Buddha. Later developed into stone

monuments.

Buddha

The Great Stupa (3rd century B.C.)

The Great Stupa

• Yasti– the mast or pole that arises

from the dome of the stupa. It symbolizes the axis of the universe; it is adorned with a series of chatras.

– Chatra» Stone, circular

disks located on the yasti

• Toranas – the four gateways

around the Great Stupa.

Pagoda

• Definition: tiered tower with

multiple eaves common in China,

Japan, and other parts of Asia.

Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist, and were often located

in or near temples.

Important Note:

Chinese Pagodas were built of STONE

Great Wild Goose

Pagoda, at Ci’en Temple,

Xi’an (645 A.D.)

Important Note:

Japanese Pagodas were built of WOOD

Horyu-ji Goju no Tou

(Five-Level Pagoda)

Horyu-ji Complex Nara, Japan(607 A.D.)

• Finial (sorin): – used to

decoratively emphasize the apex (top).

• Podium (kidan):– used as a “base”

for the structure, elevating it above the ground.

One of the few surviving murals from the Horyu-ji

Temple Complex

The Great Wall of China (5th Century B.C.)