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Art of Asia

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A brief history of the cultures of Asia
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, a beginner's guide
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Hinduism and Buddhism, an introduction
Hinduism
Discovering Sacred Texts: Hinduism
Hindu deities
Hindu temples
Beliefs made visible: Hindu art in South Asia
Buddhism
Introduction to Buddhism
Beliefs made visible: Buddhist art in South Asia
The historical Buddha
Introduction to the stupa
Buddhist monasteries
Bodhisattvas, an introduction
Seated Buddha
Four Buddhas at the American Museum of Natural History
Buddhist meditation and chant
Jainism
An introduction to the Jain faith
Jain cosmology
Sikhism
Origins and development of Sikh faith: The Gurus
Sikh prayer and worship
Sikh sacred places
China
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A beginner's guide
Imperial China, an introduction
Chinese landscape painting
Chinese calligraphy, an introduction
Chinese porcelain: decoration
Chinese porcelain: production and export
Neolithic
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Neolithic period (c. 7000–1700 B.C.E.), an introduction
Chinese jade: an introduction
Jade Cong
Working jade
Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 B.C.E.)
Shang dynasty, an introduction
Oracle Bone, Shang Dynasty
Tigers, dragons, and, monsters on a Shang Dynasty ewer
Zhou Dynasty (c. 1050–221 B.C.E.)
Zhou Dynasty, an introduction
Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 B.C.E.)
Da Ke Ding
Square lidded ritual wine container (fangyi)
Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 B.C.E.)
Bell (bo) with birds and dragons
Ambition and luxury: Marquis Yi of the Zeng State
Qin dynasty (c. 221–206 B.C.E.)
Qin dynasty, an introduction
Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.)
Han dynasty, an introduction
Funeral banner of Lady Dai (Xin Zhui)
Period of Division (220–589 C.E.)
Period of Division, an introduction
Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 C.E.)
Yungang grottoes
Longmen caves, Luoyang
Northern Qi dynasty (550–577 C.E.)
Bodhisattva, probably Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)
Western Paradise of the Buddha Amitabha
The Wirkak (Shi Jun) Sarcophagus
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Tang dynasty, an introduction
A Tang silk brocade
Chinese Buddhist cave shrines
Mogao caves at Dunhuang
Dunhuang Historical Art, Cave 323
The paintings and manuscripts from cave 17 at Mogao (1 of 2)
The paintings and manuscripts from cave 17 at Mogao (2 of 2)
Figure of a seated court lady
Attributed to Zhou Fang, Ladies Wearing Flowers in Their Hair
Admonitions Scroll, attributed to Gu Kaizhi
Zither (qin) inscribed with the name “Dragon’s Moan”
Liao dynasty (907 C.E.–1125 C.E.)
Murals in two Liao Dynasty tombs
Arhat (Luohan)
Song dynasty (960–1279 C.E.)
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Song dynasty, an introduction
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Master of the (Fishing) Nets Garden
Liang Kai
Poet Strolling by a Marshy Bank
Liang Kai (attributed), White Egret
The art of salvation—Mt. Baoding, Dazu rock carvings
Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 C.E.)
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Yuan dynasty, an introduction
Zheng Sixiao, Ink Orchid
Buddha of Medicine Bhaishajyaguru (Yaoshi fo)
Zhao Mengfu, Autumn Colors on the Que and Hua Mountains, 1295
Huang Gongwang, Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains
Xie Chufang, Fascination of Nature, handscroll
Qian Xuan, Young nobleman on horseback, handscroll
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Caterina Vilioni’s tomb in Yangzhou
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Ming dynasty, an introduction
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Wang Lü, Landscapes of Mount Hua (Huashan)
Wen Zhengming, Wintry Trees
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The Abduction of Helen Tapestry
‘Kraak’ bowl, from Jingdezhen
Brushrest with Arabic inscription
Qing dynasty (1644–1912 C.E.)
Qing dynasty, an introduction
Bada Shanren, Lotus and Ducks
The European Palaces of the Qianlong Emperor, Beijing
Shitao, Returning Home
Zisha “Ru Ding” teapot, Yixing ware
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Modern China, an introduction
Republic of China
Lang Jingshan and early Chinese photography
Wang Zhen, Buddhist Sage
People's Republic of China (1949–present)
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Liu Chunhua, Chairman Mao en Route to Anyuan
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Ai Weiwei, Remembering and the Politics of Dissent
An interview with Au Ho-nien
Japan
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A beginner's guide
A brief history of the arts of Japan: the Jomon to Heian periods
A brief history of the arts of Japan: the Kamakura to Azuchi-Momoyama periods
A brief history of the arts of Japan: the Edo period
A brief history of the arts of Japan: the Meiji to Reiwa periods
Japanese art: the formats of two-dimensional works
Jōmon period (c. 10,500–c. 300 B.C.E.)
Jōmon period, an introduction
Yayoi period (300 B.C.E.–300 C.E.)
Yayoi period, an introduction
Kofun period (300–552)
Kofun period, an introduction
Haniwa Warrior
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Asuka period, an introduction
Nara period (710–794)
Nara period, an introduction
Tōdai-ji
The Shōsōin Repository and its treasure
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Heian period, an introduction
Fudō Myōō (Achala-vidyārāja)
Kamakura period (1185–1333)
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Kamakura period, an introduction
Jizō Bosatsu
Prince Shōtoku at Age Two
Night Attack on the Sanjô Palace
Nanbokuchō (1333–1392) and Muromachi period (1392–1573)
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Nanbokuchō and Muromachi periods, an introduction
Bamboo in the Four Seasons: painting and poetry in Japan
Ryōanji (Peaceful Dragon Temple)
Kichizan Minchō, Monju Bosatsu
Sessō Tōyō, Haboku-style landscape
Muromachi to Momoyama period Negoro ware ewer
Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573–1615)
Azuchi-Momoyama period, an introduction
Oribe Tea Bowl
Edo period (1615–1868)
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Edo period, an introduction
A portrait of St. Francis Xavier and Christianity in Japan
Ogata Kōrin, Red and White Plum Blossoms
Utagawa Kunisada I, Visiting Komachi
Hokusai
Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave)
Hokusai’s printed illustrated Books
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Goto Teijo, Koto
Meiji period (1868–1912)
Meiji period, an introduction
1912–present
Taishō period, an introduction
Shōwa period
Heisei period, an introduction
Mori Mariko, Pure Land
Korea
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Royal palaces of Seoul
Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.E.–676 C.E.)
Gold and jade crown, Silla Kingdom
Pensive bodhisattva
Goryeo dynasty (918 C.E.–1392 C.E.)
Water-Moon Avalokiteśvara
Korean Celadons of the Goryeo Dynasty
Maebyong vases, an introduction
Joseon dynasty (1392–1897)
Portrait of Sin Sukju
White porcelain ‘moon jar’
Yun Baek-ha, a calligraphic handscroll
Yi Che-gwan, Portrait of a Confucian scholar
Chaekgeori-type screen
Dhratarastra, Guardian King of the East
Postwar Korea (after 1945)
Song Su-Nam, Summer Trees
Conserving Korean lacquer
Afghanistan
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Crossroads of the ancient world
Bamiyan Buddhas
Dado Panel, Courtyard of the Royal Palace of Mas’ud III
South Asia
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Challenges, opportunities, and approaches for studying South Asian art
5000 B.C.E.–1000 B.C.E.
A brief history of the art of South Asia to 500 C.E.
North + West
An Indus Seal
1000 B.C.E.–500 C.E.
Indo-Gangetic plain
The Pillars of Ashoka
Lion Capital, Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath
Bodh Gaya: The Site of the Buddha’s Enlightenment
Bodh Gaya: center of the Buddhist world
Introduction to the stupa
Beliefs made visible: Buddhist art in South Asia
Jatakas: the many lives of Buddha as Bodhisattva
Beliefs made visible: Hindu art in South Asia
A Buddha from Mathura
The Gupta Period
The Caves of Ajanta — Vakataka dynasty
The Cave of Shiva at Elephanta
Images of enlightenment: aniconic vs. iconic depictions of the Buddha in India
500–1100 C.E.
Deccan and the South
The Great Relief at Mamallapuram
Shore Temple, Mamallapuram
Durga Slays the Buffalo Demon at Mamallapuram
Sacred space and symbolic form at Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho (India)
Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi as the Goddess Parvati
Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja)
Three Hindu gods
Rajarajesvara temple, Tanjavur
Sri Lanka
Statue of Tara, consort of Avalokiteshvara
1100–1500
North + West
The Qutb complex and early Sultanate architecture
Introduction to Islam
1500–1857
Deccan + the South
The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai
Tipu’s Tiger
Goa stone and gold case
North + West
A page from the Mewar Ramayana
Three Aspects of the Absolute
The Taj Mahal
Bichitr, Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings
Illustration from the Akbarnama
Exploring Color in Mughal Paintings
Krishna Holds Up Mount Govardhan
Cashmere shawls
Conservation: Indian jama
1857–present
Submerged, burned, and scattered: celebrating the destruction of objects in South Asia
Photographic views of nineteenth-century India, an introduction 
Recording and representing India: the East India Company’s landscape practices
North + West
A Jain pilgrimage map of Shatrunjaya
Deccan + The South
Ganesha Jayanti, Lord of Beginnings
The making and worship of Ganesha statues in Maharashtra
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Varanasi: sacred city
Painting in Mithila, an introduction
Global contemporary
Rahul Jain
Waqas Khan
Noor Ali
The Artist Project: Zarina Hashmi
Zarina Hashmi – My Work is About Writing
The Artist Project: Shahzia Sikander
Inside Manish Arora’s Studio
The Artist Project: Nalini Malani
The Artist Project: Izhar Patkin
An interview with Sheba Chhachhi
An interview with Naeem Mohaiemen
An interview with Dayanita Singh
An interview with Sheela Gowda
The Singh Twins on the Impact of Empire
Jas Charanjiva on “Don’t Mess With Me”
An interview with Sunil Gupta
Southeast Asia
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Cambodia
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Angkor Wat
The Looting of Cambodian Antiquities
The Scourge of Looting: Trafficking Antiquities, from Temple to Museum
Sotheby’s Returns Looted 10th Century Statue to Cambodia
Indonesia
Borobudur
The Spirit of the Barong, Bali
Shadow puppet, Java
Thailand
Ban Chiang Clay Jar
Sukhothai Walking Buddha
The Emerald Buddha and pandemics
Vietnam
Mỹ Sơn Hindu temple complex
The Himalayas
Tibet
Jowo Rinpoche, Jokhang Temple, Tibet
Sacred arts of Tibet
Mahakala, Protector of the Tent, c. 1500

Discovering Sacred Texts: Hinduism

by The British Library

Additional resources:

The British Library’s Sacred Texts website

Cite this page as: The British Library, "Discovering Sacred Texts: Hinduism," in Smarthistory, April 13, 2020, accessed May 16, 2021, https://smarthistory.org/sacred-texts-hinduism/.

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