Andrew Horiuchi’s College Class Blog

     For my final project exhibition I decided to compare and contrast depictions of the Buddha. I started my research around 1-2C.E and I ended in the 1300s. There is not a lot of art remaining from the earlier time periods or pieces that contain images of the Buddha, so I could not find many examples of art from earlier time periods. As time goes on the images of the Buddha are seen more frequently and become more diverse. Though the majority of the depictions of the Buddha are statues, I tried to find a couple of examples of artworks that are in different categories. I was able to find what seems to be an illustration and a reliquary. The first image below is called Kamakura Daibutsu. It is one of the largest statues of its type (cast bronze) and is famous enough to make its way into other media. A good example of this is seen in the anime, Dr. Stone. The second piece seen below is the Bimaran Casket. This piece is one of the earliest to show the Buddha. It is a lesser...

Kneeling Attendant Bodhisattva, Late 7th Century. Dunhuang, China. Unfired Clay and Straw over Wooden Armature. Photo from Harvard Art Museums.       This was one of eight figures surrounding a figure of a preaching Shakyamuni Buddha. It was found in the Mogao Complex in Dunhuang, China. It was found during the First Fogg Expedition to China in 1923-1924. It is currently in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums.      The figurine is a little over 48" tall and the base it sits on is roughly 28" across. It is made from a mix of clay mixed with fibers and straw, over a wooden armature, to give it some structure. Some white was added to the surface of the statue, along with polychromy and gilding. The figurine also wears jewelry and flowing clothing. The white is used on the skin, while the polychromy and gilding is used on the jewelry and clothing. It is kneeling on a lotus flower, hands clasped flat against each other. Like most sacred figures in Bud...