1987.360.2.McD Pair of lokapalas (heavenly guardians) copy
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
As Buddhism moved into China from India, Central Asian elements entered the iconography. Among the most dramatic and energetic were guardian figures, as seen in these magnificent examples.
Buddhism in China
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Buddhism was introduced to China in the 1st century CE. A mythical story tells that a Han emperor dreamed of a golden-bodied, divine being flying in front of his palace, whom an official identified as the Buddha. This inspired the emperor to send an envoy to India to find out more about the sage. In fact, Buddhism came to China along the Silk Road.
The Silk Road
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The term "Silk Road" was coined in the late 19th century by German geographer Ferdinand von Richtofen (1833-1905) to describe the ancient transcontinental trade route that operated from the end of the 2nd century BCE until the 15th century. The Silk Road was not a single path between Europe and Asia, but a network of land and sea routes that spanned anywhere from four to seven thousand miles.
1987.356.A-C William Gale & Son, Tureen
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The form and decoration of this Rococo Revival tureen, produced by the New York firm William Gale & Son, are based on mid-eighteenth century English and French designs.
1989.78.a-b.McD Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
These screens depicting The Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup take their theme from a classical poem by the Chinese Tang poet Tu Fu (712-70 A.D.). Since the poem is one of the great pieces of Chinese literature, the subject was popular in the painting of both China and Japan.
1972.13 Tiger
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The terse outlines and elliptical manipulation of space and design in Nagasawa Rosetsu's painting express the bluntness and directness of Zen painting.
1984.202.25 Kanaya: Distant Bank of the Ōi River
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A procession makes its way to the bank of the Enshū Kanaya post station.
Soga Shohaku (1730-1781)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Soga Shohaku was an outstanding eccentric artist of his day. The history of the Soga School, whose name Shohaku adopted, stretched back to ink painting artists at Zen Buddhist temples in Kyoto in the 15th century. This line of early Soga School artists was broken following the collapse of traditional daimyō -patron support in the 16th century.
1972.1 Portrait of Daruma
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Daruma, the semi-legendary founder of Zen Buddhism, was among Hakuin's favored subjects, particularly as he is represented here, with a large head, intense gaze, and calligraphic stroke indicating his robe.