How are cultural exchanges reflected in art?

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“Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.”
-Eudora Welty

Student Resources
PowerPoint
Key Ideas
Buddhist and Hindu Philosophies
Common Themes in Buddhism
Hindu gods
Artworks List
Vocabulary
​Flashcard Images
* YouTube: Crash Course World History: Buddha and Ashoka
* YouTube: Sanci Stupa
* Hinduism vs. Buddhism
* Listen to this podcast from University of Texas at Austin about the sects of Buddhism.
* 15 Minute History that accompanies the above podcast
* Angkor Wat by Nat Geo
* Borobudur Temple Complex: UNESCO
​* All about the Buddha by PBS

Siem Reap, Cambodia

      I went to Cambodia with a few students from Cal State LB in January 2010. We worked with various NGOs, orphanages, and after school programs for children ages 3-adolescent. My program was for young boys and we implemented an art program to be carried out throughout the year by Pannasastra University students in Phnom Penh. We visited Siem Reap for a weekend to visit Angkor Wat and surrounding temples. 

Boat ride to Siem Reap (about 2 hours from Phnom Penh)

Angkor Wat from the top of Phnom Bakheng

At Angkor Wat (1/2010)

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

It's hot and humid but the temple walls are cool and I was so happy to be there.

At Banteay Kdei

At Banteay Kdei

On the last night, my students fixed my hair, did my makeup, and taught me Khmer dance on the roof top. Afterwards, they lit candles all around us and sang to us. I've never had a more magical experience traveling and getting to know a culture.

Key Ideas

• Indian Art stresses the interconnectiveness of all the arts: architecture, painting, and sculpture.
• Buddhist and Hindu philosophies form a background to Indian artistic thought.
• A blend of various people who invaded India create the unique culture.

Buddhist Philosophies

• Teaches individuals how to cope in the world full or misery.
• Buddha, Siddhartha, when he was a prince first, rejected worldly concerns and courtly life and decided to live in the country.
• Believes in reincarnation, a cycle of birth and rebirth.
• Enlightenment, or reaching Nirvana, ends the cycle, through good deeds and living a devotional life to charities, religious fervor, and love of all.

Common Themes of Buddism

• The Lion = Buddha's initial royalty
• The Wheel (chakra) = Buddha's law
• The Lotus = Buddha's pure nature
• Columns surrounds by a wheel = Buddha's teachings
• Empty throne, umbrella, footsteps, lone wheel, Bodhi tree = Buddha

Hindu Philosophies

• Many different sects of Hinduism
• Belief in the infinite variety of the divine: nature, gods, humans
• Orthodox Hindus accept the Vedic (ancient Sanskrit)  texts as divine (sacred scriptures)
• Vedic texts assign Brahmins (a caste of ritual specialists)
• Enlightenment, or reaching Nirvana, ends the cycle, through good deeds and living a devotional life to charities, religious fervor, and love of all.

Artworks List

Buddha from Baiyan
Jowo Rinpoche from the Jokhang Temple
Great Stupa at Sanchi
​   North Gate
Borobudur Temple
Shiva as Lord of the Dance
Angkor Wat
   South Gate at Angkor Thom
   Churning of the Ocean of Milk
   Jayavarman VII as Buddha
Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings

Vocabulary

ashlar masonry
bas-relief
bi
Bodhisattva
Buddha
​Daoism
horror vacui
iconoclasm
mandorla
mudra
Nirvana
Sakyamuni
Shiva
stupa
torana
urna
ushinisha
Vairocana
Vishnu
wat
yakshi

Flashcard Images