A Comparative Analysis of South and East Asian Culture and its Impact on Art Making

One (of many) perks of being a Brown student is the history at our footsteps, the treasure cove of artifacts that is the RISD Museum. On a recent trip, I was greeted by this artifact that prompted a deep dive into Buddhism, and its associated sculpture making. This artifact dates all the way back to the 400- 530 CE from the ancient Wei dynasty of China. It is a stela (upright stone or slab used as a monument or marker) made of gray limestone, and upon closer inspection, has faint traces of pigment. In this essay, by analyzing the elements of this specific stele, I will attempt to trace the Indian influences on Chinese Buddhist art, particularly during the Northern Wei period, while also highlighting the distinct styles that evolved in each region.

The Buddha evolved with specific iconography in its Indian depictions that prevailed impressively over time. These unique markers are apparent in early Chinese sculptures. For instance, in this particular stele one can observe a high bun, elongated earlobes, serene expression and a cross leg seated position, all of which trace back to the initial Indian sculptures. While one hand is chipped off and remains unclear, the second is making the Varada mudra which symbolizes fulfillment of wishes and charity, and is a gesture tracing back to the Indian Gupta period.