Argus in China

DSC07777ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuConversionOfTheViviousNaga2nd-3rdCenturySahriBahlolMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseumGreySchist

The Three brothers from the clan kasyapa practiced fire worship and had a religious community of a thousand disciples. When the Buddha visited Mahakasyapa, he asked to stay in the fire chamber for the night. Mahakasyapa told the Buddha that there was a vicious naga, and it was not safe inside. The Buddha did not show any fear and insisted on staying. After entering the fire chamber, the Buddha entered dhyana, subdued the naga, and imprisoned it in his bowl. Mahakasyapa was thus convinced and xxed his disciples to convert and join the samgha. The Buddha stands on the left side of the relief, holding a bowl in his left hand, a snake coiled in the bowl with its head raised and stretch out. At the feet of the Buddha, fire worshopers are crawling on the ground, showing the legend of the “Conversion of the Vicious Naga”.

DSC07778ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuConversionOfTheViviousNaga2nd-3rdCenturySahriBahlolMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseumGreySchist

Vaste bezoekers van mijn blog weten dat als ik kunst fotografeer ik ook de toelichting bij het werk fotografeer. Maar dat gaat wel eens mis. Zoals bij dit werk waar een paar letters aan de linkerkant zijn weggevallen. Daarom heb ik de tekst overgenomen en de missende letters, daar waar ik dat kan, ingevuld. China, Lanzhou, Provincial Museum of Gansu, Conversion of the Vicious Naga, 2nd – 3rd century, Sahri Bahlol, Mardan District, Peshawar Museum, grey schist.


DSC07780ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuBustOfTheBuddhaInDharmacakraMudra

The present work shows Sakyamuni at his first sermon in the Deer Park in Sarnath. The figure has a seperate usnisa which is relatively dispositional, and wears a robe with the right shoulder exposed, and the folds of the garment are of carving with smooth lines. The features of the figure are well formed, with a high nose bridge, deep set eyes, and a mustache on the lips. The robustness of the body is visible and is a Gandhara statue from its heyday.

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Bust of the Buddha in dharmacakra mudra.


DSC07785ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuTheMiracleAtSravastiOrAmitabha3rd-5thCenturyTakht-i-BahiMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseumDSC07786ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuTheMiracleAtSravastiOrAmitabha3rd-5thCenturyTakht-i-BahiMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseumTxt

The Miracle at Sravasti or Amitabha, 3rd – 5th century, Takht-i-Bahi, Mardan District, Peshawar Museum.


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Miracle at Sravasti, 2nd – 3rd century, Sahri Bahlol, Mardan District, Peshawar Museum, schist.


DSC07789ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuKingUdayanaPresentsTheBuddhaImageToTheBuddha2nd-3rdCenturySahriBahlolMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseumDSC07790ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuKingUdayanaPresentsTheBuddhaImageToTheBuddha2nd-3rdCenturySahriBahlolMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseumTxt

King Udayana presents the Buddha image to the Buddha, 2nd – 3rd century, Sahri Bahlol, Mardan District, Peshawar Museum.


Argus in China

DSC07722ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuEarPendant1stCenturyBCSilkapTaxilaaxilaMuseumGold

China, Lanzhou, Provincial Museum of Gansu, Ear pendant, 1st century BC, Silkap, Taxila, Taxila Museum, gold. Bijzonder voorwerp. Een bloedzuiger, dat is de vertaling van het Engelse woord ‘leech’. Zou niet mijn eerste keuze zijn om er een oorbel van te maken maar het resultaat mag er zijn!

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DSC07724ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuCultOfTheTriratna2nd-3rdCenturyTakht-i-BahiMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseumSchist

Cult of the Triratna, 2nd – 3rd century, Takht-i-Bahi, Mardan District, Peshawar Museum, schist. ‘Takht-i-Bahi’ is de naam van een Buddhistisch klooster.


Wikipedia:

The Triratna is a Buddhist symbol, thought to visually represent the Three Jewels of Buddhism (the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha).

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DSC07726ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuCultOfTheRelicStupas2nd-3rdCenturyTakht-i-DahiMardanDistrictPeshawarMuseum

Het was een enorm geluk dat ik de kans had deze tentoonstelling te bezoeken. Het is voor mij weer een hele nieuwe iconografie. Cult of the relic stupas, 2nd – 3rd century, Takht-i-Bahi, Mardan District, Peshawar Museum.

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DSC07728ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuWorshippingEnthronedTurbanOfSiddhartha2nd-3rdCentruryGandharaDistrictPeshawarMuseumSchist

Worshipping of the enthroned turban of Siddhartha, 2nd – 3rd centrury, Gandhara District, Peshawar Museum, schist. In plaats van Boeddha zelf af te beelden kun je ook een symbool dat nauw met hem verbonden is afbeelden, zoals zijn tulband. Dit is een gewoonte in meerdere religies.

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DSC07730ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuTheBuddha'sDescentFromTheTrayastrimsa1st-2ndCenturyButkaraIMingoraSwatDistrictSwatMuseumGreenSchist

The Buddha’s descent from the Trayastrimsa, 1st – 2nd century, Butkara I, Mingora, Swat District, Swat Museum, green schist. Trayastrimsa is eenvoudig gezegd een van de 6 hemelse ruimtes in het Boeddhisme. De voetstappen onder aan de middelste ladder zijn die van Boeddha.

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DSC07732ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuPrincelyFigureWithABunchOfLotusFlowers2nd-3rdCenturyIslamabadMuseumSchist

Princely figure with a bunch of lotus flowers, 2nd – 3rd century, Islamabad Museum, schist.

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DSC07734ArgusInChinaLanzhouProvincialMuseumOfGansuReliefWothADonor1st-2ndCenturyButkaraSwatDisctrictSwatMuseumSchist

Relief with a donor, 1st – 2nd century, Butkara, Swat Disctrict, Swat Museum, schist.

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