How ancient Gandhara art gave a body to the Buddha
A new travelogue investigates the Buddhist sites of ancient Gandhara and sheds light on an often forgotten confluence of civilisations By Bibek Bhattacharya In 2001, when the Taliban blew up the monumental statues of the Buddha at Bamiyan in Afghanistan,…
Afghans recall Taliban’s destruction of famed Buddha statues
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s giant Buddhas stood watch over the picturesque Bamiyan valley for centuries, surviving Mongol invasions and the harsh environment until the Taliban arrived with an apocalyptic worldview that did not care about one of the great wonders of…
The Thousand-Buddha Motif: On the Timelessness of Ancient Art
The Thousand-Buddha motif is a recurrent theme in the Buddhist art of Central Asia and China. The motif depicts a multitude of buddhas arranged in a grid fashion, all seated in meditation on a lotus pedestal, and its popularity increased…
Chinese bowl bought for $35 at a yard sale could make half a million
A small floral bowl bought at a yard sale in Connecticut for just $35 has been identified as an exceptionally rare 15th-century Chinese antique. The intricate blue-and-white artifact, which features motifs of lotus, peony, chrysanthemum and pomegranate blossoms, was originally…
10th century Buddha Vihar discovered in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag
As per the evidence found in Hazaribagh, it appeared that the Buddhist structures were built during the Pala period, said an archaeologist with the ASI. A 10th century structure resembling a small ‘Buddha Vihar’ (Buddhist shrine-cum-monastery) has been discovered during…
‘Buddha and Shiva, Lotus and Dragon: Masterworks from the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection at Asia Society’ Resumes Museum Tour
Made in India, Tamil Nadu Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Shiva Nataraja) , Chola period, ca. 970. Copper alloy. Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.20 Courtesy American Federation of Arts Made in…
Hai Phong pagoda enshrines the Buddha in a cave
Leaning on a mountain and overlooking the beach, the Hang Pagoda in northern Hai Phong City is a spiritually and historically significant place of worship. The pagoda, also known as Coc Tu, is situated in Zone 1, Van Son Ward…
Archaeological excavation recovers remnants of a Shiva Lingam at ancient Tamil temple site
An excavation by Sri Lanka’s archaeological department recovered ancient remains of a structure resembling a Shiva Lingam at the site of the Athi Aiyanar temple located in the Kurunthoormalai area of Mullaitivu. This finding comes just weeks after Vidura Wickramanayaka,…
China retrieves Buddha-head sculpture missing for a century
A stone Buddha head stolen from one of the statues in north China’s Tianlongshan Grottoes almost a century ago has been retrieved, the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) said Thursday. The Buddha head, which was brought back from Japan on…