DID YOU KNOW? Theravada Buddhism was the main form of religious worship in mainland South-East Asia by the fourteenth century and it remains so today. It is the state religion of both Cambodia and Thailand. Bodhisattvas In Buddhist belief, a bodhisattva is a being who is working towards enlightenment. In Mahayana Buddhism, Avalokiteshvara is one of the most revered bodhisattvas, one who has vowed to help others to achieve nirvana. 8.6.3 Religious art, architecture and literature Indian and Sri Lankan traders and priests introduced Hinduism, Buddhism and artistic ideas to South- East Asia, influencing sculpture, dance and architecture. By 500 CE, India had imparted Hindu gods, Buddhist concepts, a writing system (Sanskrit) and governance ideas to Cambodia, which shaped Angkor. Although inspired by India, Angkor developed its unique Cambodian identity and, in turn, influenced other South-East Asian societies. Buddhist rulers built temples and monasteries, decorating them with religious artworks, to gain merit and reinforce their legitimacy as pious leaders.
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. What elements in the mural show the influence of Hindu epic stories in South-East Asian art and culture? 2. How do the characters and scenes from the Ramayana in the mural reflect the religious beliefs and values of the society that created it? 3. Why is it significant that the Ramayana, an Indian Hindu epic, has been depicted in a mural on a temple wall in Bangkok?
SOURCE4 A mural on a temple wall in Bangkok depicting a scene from the Ramayana
Influence of the Ramayana Indian Hindu literature came to South-East Asia along with Indian religious ideas. The Ramayana is one of two great Hindu epic stories. The other is the Mahabharata . The Ramayana ’s 24 000 verses were composed in the eighth century BCE. Its hero, Rama, is an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. The purpose of the story was to demonstrate the dharma (right path that people should take in life). From the eighth century BCE, the Ramayana had an enormous influence in South-East Asia, and it has been depicted in temple art, architecture, theatre and dance.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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