Kamakura period (1185 - 1332)
Taima mandala early 1300s
hanging scroll, ink and colour with gold on silk,
146 x 138cm
Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation
Purchase 1991
369.1991

  
Faiths of Asia

The faiths of Asia have inspired an abundance of imagery which lies at the core of the various Asian art traditions. While faiths such as Hinduism and Buddhism have spread to embrace Southeast Asia, and in the case of Buddhism East Asia, their accompanying artistic traditions have evolved into myriad distinctive forms. The resulting artistic heritage is as much a testament to the universal genius of human creativity as it is a tribute to the values and aspirations of diverse local communities.
Hinduism and Buddhism are living faiths. Central to both is the idea of samsara, a perpetual cycle of birth, death and re-birth which results in a repeated cycle of suffering. The aim of both faiths then is to achieve release from this suffering. In the Hindu tradition this liberation is known as moksha; in the Buddhist tradition it is known as nirvana, the extinction or cessation of the cycle of re-births. From this common creed Hinduism and Buddhism diverge. Their different paths to liberation are reflected in their arts: the worlds of Hinduism express the richness and drama of human life while the worlds of Buddhism are conveyed in images of contemplation and spiritual austerity.