Buddhism in China

 During our exploration of the Cleveland Museum of Art's Asian galleries, we have seen Buddhist art from a number of countries.  Now comes China.  Buddhism was brought to China during the Han Dynasty in the 1st century A.D. by missionaries from India.  The new faith was welcomed enthusiastically by the people, and it became mingled with the existing Confucian and Taoist beliefs.

One gallery is filled with Buddhist images from China.

This marble sculpture of a seated Buddha comes from around 570 during the Tang Dynasty.

From the same time period is this piece, also sculpted from marble.  It shows Buddha flanked by two "bodhisattvas" and two disciples.  (You may recall from before that a "bodhisattva" is a being who helps others attain enlightenment.)

 

This sculpture from around 550 is of a disciple of Buddha holding a reliquary for Buddha's ashes.  

This limestone head of Buddha was found in a cave-temple.  It is about 1500 years old.

This is a portion of a temple pillar which was commissioned by a group of Buddhist believers to pay tribute to the dead.  Above the figures there are inscriptions honoring deceased members of their families.

This gilt bronze figure depict Buddha during the time he spent as an ascetic in his quest for enlightenment.  It dates from the early 1300s.

This "bodhisattva" is carved from wood and his traces of the original paint and gilt.  It is from the 1300s during the Jin Dynasty.

In China, the most revered "bodhisattva" is Guanyin, the "bodhisattva" of compassion.  He is worshipped as a deity.  The museum has several large, impressive, wooden statues of Guanyin, dating from, the 12th to the 14th centuries.

There will be more from China, but if you have had your fill of images of Buddha and his "bodhisattvas", take heart.  We will be looking at decorative arts, chinaware and painted wall hangings.