Who was the Buddha and how have artists depicted him as a visually recognizable figure in sculpture?
Buddhism
Mudras are a set of hand gestures and finger positions that serve as symbols in Buddhist art.
Mudras in Buddhist art
The largest Buddha in the world is at Mount Emei in China.
Giant Buddha of Leshan
A brief primer on bodhisattvas
Bodhisattvas, an introduction
Bodh Gaya is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment—over millennia it has been reconstructed and reimagined.
Bodh Gaya: The Site of the Buddha’s ...
There are many kinds of Buddhist meditations; here Dr Sarah Shaw describes the ‘middle way’ of the Buddha and explores key aspects of Buddhist meditation and chant, such as the use of Buddha-images and visualization.
Buddhist meditation and chant
The religion that originated in India took on so many different forms that it is often difficult to see how the various sects of Buddhism are related.
Introduction to Buddhism
A Buddha is seen as one who becomes awakened to the true nature of reality.
The Buddha and Buddhist sacred texts
A mound of dirt or the body of the Buddha? These sacred sites give practitioners insight into the Four Noble Truths.
The stupa
Despite a princely upbringing, Siddhartha insisted he was just a man—albeit one who attained perfection.
The historical Buddha
From simple assembly halls to expansive rock caves, buildings for Buddhist monks grew in complexity over time.
Buddhist Monasteries
Buddhism thrived in India for over a thousand years. Discover important sites in the life of the Buddha.
Beliefs made visible: Buddhist art in South ...
Siddhartha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Now a major pilgrimage site, it is covered in offerings.
Bodh Gaya: center of the Buddhist world
This video decodes the hand gestures, symbols, and styles of Buddhas from Thailand, Pakistan, Japan, and China.
Four Buddhas at the American Museum of ...
An empty throne, footsteps, and a wheel—rather than represent the Buddha directly, sculptors relied on symbols.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!
