SkillBuilder discussion Historical significance 1. What religious beliefs and practices do you think are reflected in the sculptures? 2. How do the depictions of Shiva and other deities in the sculptures illustrate the influence of Hinduism on the Khmer Empire?
SOURCE3 A figure from Banteay Srei, a tenth-century Hindu temple on the outskirts of Angkor
3. Do the sculptures
incorporate elements of animism and local beliefs alongside Hinduism and Buddhism?
Reincarnation is a key Hindu belief. Hindus believe that a soul exists in each living thing and that performing religious duties and living a moral life leads to being born into a higher class in the next life. Hindus see their goal as the achievement of spiritual joy by eventually being united with Brahma, the universal spirit. Hinduism in South-East Asia Hinduism in India divided society into classes called castes. These are Brahman (priests); warriors and landowners; farmers and craftspeople; and untouchables or outcasts. By the ninth century CE, many rulers of South-East Asian states followed Hinduism, but the caste system was never adopted in South-East Asia. 8.6.2 Buddhism Buddhism was founded by the Hindu prince Siddhartha Gautama in the sixth century BCE. After seeing suffering in his kingdom, he left his wealth to seek truth. He lived as a hermit for seven years before teaching the Four Noble Truths, earning the name Buddha, meaning ‘the Enlightened One’. The Four Noble Truths are: • Everyone suffers pain, regardless of wealth. • People are trapped in a cycle of reincarnation and pain. • Pain is caused by desire. • To overcome desire, one must follow the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path involves knowing the truth, freeing the mind from evil, serving neighbours and meditating to eliminate desire. Following this path leads to nirvana. Buddhism in South-East Asia After Buddha’s death, Buddhism split into Mahayana and Theravada forms. Mahayana Buddhism, which worships the Buddha, first influenced South-East Asian rulers. Theravada Buddhism, focusing on Buddha’s teachings, arrived from Sri Lanka. Theravada monks supported others on the Eightfold Path, with ordinary people supporting the monks to ‘make merit’. Buddhist temples called wats became community centres and pilgrimage sites.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator