Introduction to the Buddhist Asia Gallery The Buddhist Asia Gallery has more than 130 objects from

Japan, Thailand, China, Burma, Nepal and Tibet on display.

Sakyamuni, known as the historical Buddha, lived in the

sixth century BCE. His teachings form the foundation of

Buddhism, one of the world’s major religions. Buddhism

spread via land and sea trade routes from its source in

India to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Tibet and

Southeast Asia. Because of this, Buddhism provides us with

a thread linking the major cultural traditions in Asia.

The history of Buddhism’s development and

dissemination is a study in diversity. During its spread,

Buddhism influenced the cultures in which it took

root and in turn, was influenced by them. The exhibit

introduces this history and diversity to the viewer.

In the exhibition, the visitor takes a journey through

space and time which begins in the sixth-century BCE

India, the birthplace of Buddhism. This section establishes

the foundation for understanding the major tenets and

principles of the religion, as well as providing examples

of some of the earliest representations of the Buddha.

A highlight of this section is the installation of stupa

fragments. A stupa is a monument, usually in the form of

a mound, which contains relics of the historical Buddha

or other holy men. The stupa fragments in this exhibit

are from second-century CE Amaravati. There is also

a drawing reconstructing the stupa’s original shape,

which was derived from pre-Buddhist burial mounds.

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THE BUDDHIST ASIA GALLERY AT THE PENN MUSEUM

Standing Buddha, Pakistan

Vajrasattva, Nepal

Next, the viewer visits the vast, dusty tracks of

Central Asia, following the ancient trade routes

along which Buddhist pilgrims traveled back and

forth between India and China during the second to

eighth centuries CE. Because of the traffic along these

trade routes, the kingdoms that dotted this stretch

of land were, or became, Buddhist during this time.

In the next section, visitors will learn about

Buddhism’s appearance in China, which also

serves as an important introduction to the

Museum’s well-known and beautiful works of

Buddhist art on display in the Chinese Rotunda.

The objects from Japan richly illustrate the

development and diversification of Buddhism in

Japan after the sixth century CE. The highlight

of this section is the spectacular full-scale altar

created by the Exhibits Department. The structure

of this splendid altar reflects careful research and

accurately depicts a typical Japanese Buddhist altar.

The central golden Buddha sits on his gilded lotus

flanked on his right by Monju, bodhisattva of

wisdom, seated on his lion, and on the left by Fugen,

bodhisattva of goodness, riding his elephant. Both

Monju and Fugen are part of the Sommerville

Collection, Buddhist material collected by Maxwell

Sommerville around the end of the nineteenth

century and given to the Penn Museum.

The Buddha came to the Museum through the

generosity of the locally owned department store,

Strawbridge and Clothier, when they learned that

the Museum was searching for a large-scale Buddha

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Maitreya Buddha, China

THE BUDDHIST ASIA GALLERY AT THE PENN MUSEUM

Fudo, Japan

image to complete the altar triad. The sculpture is a modern

image produced by Thai artisans in Japanese style.

Next, is the Tibet section. Tibet became Buddhist

only in the eighth century CE, much later than

China or Japan. In addition to religious paintings

and sculpture, the Tibetan collection includes a good

ethnographic selection of objects used by lamas (Tibetan

Buddhist monks), sorcerers, and devout laymen.

The Buddhist Asia Gallery will be deinstalled in August, 2012.

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Guanyin bodhisattva, China

THE BUDDHIST ASIA GALLERY AT THE PENN MUSEUM

Wooden Model of Temple Facade, Burma

Criss Cross Puzzle

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCrissCross.asp[8/12/2011 11:08:54 AM]

Buddhism & Hinduism

Across2. people beyond caste3. Buddhist practice8. elimination of suffering10. results of actions11. enlightened one12. world's oldest religion13. founded by SiddharthaDown1. basic Buddhist understanding4. Hindu life-force5. rigid social group6. meat free diet7. rebirth9. road to enlightnement

Buddhism & Hinduism Crossword1puzzle

Down1. basic Buddhist understanding

(3 words)

4. Hindu life-force

5. rigid social group (2 words)

6. meat-free diet

7. rebirth

9. road to enlightenment (2 words)

Across 2. people beyond caste

3. Buddhist practice

8. elimination of suffering

10. results of actions

11. enlightened one

12. world’s oldest religion

13. founded by Siddhartha

Criss Cross Puzzle

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCrissCross.asp[8/12/2011 11:08:54 AM]

Buddhism & Hinduism

Across2. people beyond caste3. Buddhist practice8. elimination of suffering10. results of actions11. enlightened one12. world's oldest religion13. founded by SiddharthaDown1. basic Buddhist understanding4. Hindu life-force5. rigid social group6. meat free diet7. rebirth9. road to enlightnement

Down1. basic Buddhist understanding

(3 words)

4. Hindu life-force

5. rigid social group (2 words)

6. meat-free diet

7. rebirth

9. road to enlightenment (2 words)

Across 2. people beyond caste

3. Buddhist practice

8. elimination of suffering

10. results of actions

11. enlightened one

12. world’s oldest religion

13. founded by Siddhartha

Buddhism & Hinduism Crossword1answer sheet

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