The origins of murals in the buddhist world
Loading...
Date
2013
Authors
Somathilake, M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
In the oldest Indian texts the art of painting is attributed to god Vishnu thereby clearly indicating its divine origin. Although this reflects the Brahmanical ideals, it clearly indicates that the painting tradition was foremost among other artistic activities during the ancient period. As in the case of the views of the Brahmanical canon, the Buddhist tradition also held the same view that " there is nothing finer in the world than the art of painting " As India was the birthplace of Buddhism it may be assumed that it was also the birthplace of the Buddhist school of painting. Although it is difficult to speak with any precision as to the beginnings of Indian painting on account of non-availability of relevant evidence, it is certain that at least in the second or first century BC the Buddhist painting tradition was a fairly developed art as represented by some of the murals of caves at Ajanta, Ellora and Bagh etc. Some scholars have concluded that " it is no exaggeration to say that the history of painting in Sri Lanka is also the story of the spread of Buddhism in the island" while some others have concluded that the 'knowledge' of Buddhist painting tradition of India along with the Vinayarules would have been introduced to Sri Lanka with the formal adoption and spread of Buddhism somewhere in the third century BC, during the reign of Devanam Piyatissa. Nevertheless, it is evident that the extant Buddhist paintings of Sri Lanka belong to a much later period than the official introduction of Buddhism as this paper discussed the matter in detail.
Description
Keywords
Origin of Buddhist paintings , Indian murals , Sri Lankan paintings
Citation
Modern Sri Lanka Studies, 2013, IV(2), P 56-83