Art of Newar Buddhism

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Art of Newar Buddhism
Dina Bangdel Virginia Commonwealth University
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Methodology and Approach

• Art as visual document
• Art as Practice

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• 1. Iconography visual language
• 2. Iconology symbolism / practice and concepts
• 3. Style/Aesthetic conventions
• social / cultural history

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Cakrasamvara and Vajravarahi. Ca. 15th century.
LACMA
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Root Teaching Lineage
Reading a painting
Main Deity
Protectors
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Maitri Dakini
Newar artists in Tibet
Paldan Lhamo
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Maitri Dakini (Akasa Yogini)
Palden Lhamo (Sri Devi)
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Nepal Ca. 19th century 45.72x63.50cm
(18x25in) Ground Mineral Pigment on
Cotton Collection of Rubin Museum of Art (acc.
P1994.26.2)
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Cakrasamvara and Vajravarahi Nepal Ca. 15th
century. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
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Mahasiddha Virupa (associated with Hevajra)
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Virupa
Hevajra
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Namasangiti Manjusri
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Manjusri Namasangiti personification of
text, Namasangiti Tantra Chanting the Names of
Manjusri
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Art in Context
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Sakya Monastery, Tibet
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Newar Buddhist Architecture

• Reading the sacred space
• Iconographic program
• BAHI (with cells)
• BAHA (married householders)

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Cha Bahi. Established by Charumati, daughter of
Asoka.
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• Plan of Bahi
• Central Stupa
• Public Shrine
• Cells for monastic

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Bahi, Plan Nepal
6thc rock-cut monasteries India
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Monasteries as 3-D Mandalas
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• Baha Architecture 3 Components
• Central Caitya
• Public Shrine
• Secret Tantric Shrine

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• Baha Architecture 3 Components
• Central Caitya Svayambhu vivifies the space
• Public Shrine Shakyamuni
• Secret Tantric Shrine Cakrasamvara and
• Vajravarahi

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Central Caitya Vivifies the sacred space
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Svayambhu Caitya enshrined
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Iconography 2 Public Shrine
Strut are Manjusris Dharmadhatu Mandala
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Iconography 2 Dharmadhatu Mandala
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Iconography 3 Chakrasamvara Mandala
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Chakrasamvara Mandala
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Self-Arisen Pithas Power-Places of the Mother
Goddess
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Namasangiti Manjusri
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Five Jina Victor Buddhas
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Practitioner as Buddha
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Vairocana. Ca. 8th century. India. Asia Society,
NY
Priest as Vairocana
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Vajrasattva, ca. 9thc. Bangladesh
Priest as Vajrasattva
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Art as Practice
Cakrasamvara Ca. 15th century Newar Artists in
Tibet Los Angeles County Museum of Art
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Vajradhatu Initiation, LACMA, 2003