Christianity & Buddhism in Art
To what extent do Christian and Buddhist art share religious methods?
By: Ani Keen
By: Ani Keen
Why did I choose to research this?
I chose to research this question, because I want to find out more about Buddhism, because it's in my roots. I chose Christianity because, in my lifetime I have not gotten learn much about the religion. My family is Jewish, so they don’t talk much about Christianity. I chose to relate these religions with art because, art always had different ways of expressing itself and art is my favorite subject. PS: Bolded words are in the Glossary!
The Christian religious methods are mostly about the rules-Christians have many rules to attend church:
These rules all respect Jesus, and shows that the people believe and worship for him. But if these aren’t done, then it shows disrespect to Jesus and the religion.
The characters in the art were usually Jesus at different events in his life; the birth of Jesus, the death of Jesus (the cross), etc... In the churches, there are usually some sort of artworks, that represents a story.
These religious methods started between 6-7 BC, that's when Jesus was born-when Christianity started. They started when Jesus was born, because there had to be a way for the Christians to learn about the religion, rules and it’s traditions.
Christians usually do these methods in churches, because that is a very important area for Christians. Churches are located all around the world, except for countries that don't believe in Christianity.
Priests are the ones who teach others, because they are like the leaders in the churches. They work with the bible to spread/teach knowledge, to help others understand the culture of Christianity.
Stained glass in Church, representing a story.
Church for Christians
Painting in Church
Statue of Jesus
Buddhist Temple
Wai, a gesture to greet and respect others
Ayutthaya Temple
Shrine at a House
Buddhist art includes paintings, sculptures and other ways to represent stories, or the concept of the Buddha. Temples are the main places where Buddhists worship. In the temples people must be:
The characters in the art, were usually “various Bodhisattvas (those who aspire, to become like a Buddha or attain enlightenment).” There were a whole bunch of different Bodhisattvas/Buddha's: (Main Buddha's/Bodhisattvas)
These religious methods started in 624 BC, and that's when Buddhism started. When this religion started, they must of had a way to teach the religion, traditions and it's rules.
These methods were done in temples all around Buddhist countries, but they could also be done at homes, in a room, that's decorated like a shrine, it includes; a statue of a Buddha, candles, and a incense burner. But the people can also have the spirit houses outside of their homes. It acts like a mini temple.
Buddha’s are the ones who spread the new knowledge, but the Buddha's are never there physically. But Buddhists believe that the spirit of the Buddha is still there. The visitors will see signs that explain what/how to worship in the temples, because there are no leaders of a temple.
Spirit House
Manjushri Bodhisattvas
Kuber or Vaishravana Bodhisattvas
Guan Yin Bodhisattvas
Mahapratisara Bodhisattvas
Tara Bodhisattvas
Mahapratisara Bodhisattvas
Vajrapani Bodhisattvas
Both religions share some religious methods, but they also have their own. From my research I've learnt about the similarities between the religions methods. I discovered that both religions art, include their main characters, as in Buddhas and Jesus. But Buddhism is atheistic, they have Buddha's instead. Christianity is monotheistic, so that's why they don't have many character's in the art. From my experience, from being in a temple, I have seen more than just Buddha's-there are also creatures from tales. The art of both religions tell stories, either from the bible or stories that have been passed on throughout history. In both religions, the methods have rules to respect and worship their art. These religions are similar when it comes to religious methods and art, because their rules are similar too: They both must wear appropriate clothing, be quiet in worshiping areas, respect others and property. Christianity and Buddhism share many different types of religious methods, the rules, the stories, the characteristics, etc...
Bodhisattvas: A person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so through compassion for suffering beings.
Nirvana: A state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.
Shrine: A place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic, marked by a building or other construction.
Spirit House: A spirit house; 'house of the guardian spirit.'
Mahayana: One of the two major traditions of Buddhism.
Wai: A gesture which is used to greet and respect others.
Monotheistic: Belief in one God
Atheistic: Belief in no Gods
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