Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.38

v2.c11.38

In the middle and later periods of 1st century CE, Indian Buddhist carving art changed rapidly under the influence and interactions of foreign cultures such as from Persia, Greece and Rome. Figure modeling gradually replaced the symbolic expression of the Buddha. Sakyamuni was against idolatry during his lifetime, but in late 1st century CE, the carving and building of Buddha statue have become very important for Buddhist worship. Two carving schools – Matula and Gandhara have even carved Buddha. During the early period (1st-3rd centuries CE), Gandhara Buddha was greatly influenced by Greek carving. They were mainly schist stone carving, and Buddha image was like the Greek sun-god – Apollo; therefore, they were called the Hellenization Buddha statue. Two Bamiyan Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban regime in early 2001 CE were the most magnificent Gandhara Buddha statues. Later, Gandhara Buddha statues were gradually localised, with Indian style and was built by clay. Gandhara Buddha statues were introduced in China, Korea and Japan via Central Asia, and provided the model for art of Buddhist statues in East Asia, exerting profound and great influence.