Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c10.3

c10.3

With this change in the religious system of India also came a marked advance in the arts. Buddhism essentially a graphic creed, art became its handmaid, so that wherever it penetrated it was accompanied by forms and symbols expressive of its teaching. In India this early Buddhist art was of a special kind as it was the result of the Mauryan emperor's own personal predilections, and its productions have been referred to as those of the Asokan School. Its elements were due to the ruler's initiative, they were practised only during his reign, and they ceased when it ended; it was therefore essentially autocratic in its character. But although this first manifestation of Buddhist art was confined within such seemingly narrow limits, and its actual productions were relatively few in number, they were of such exceptional power that they influenced to a notable degree much of the art that followed. The significance of this school lies in the fact that it marks the beginning of an era when India through Buddhist thought was in a position to dictate to the rest of Asia its religion, its symbolism, and its art.