Azalea and Shaka

do not worry about the fires of hell - Azalea, Azalea sorge Dich nicht um das Höllenfeuer - Azaleen, Azaleen

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Very interesting, Gabi.
Forget the azaleas. Tell us about that sculpture. With all its skin flayed off (the fires of Hell?) it looks like an illustration out of Gray's Anatomy.
L.

Here is a little about the background of this statue.

It shows the human Gautama Siddharta, the future Buddha, during a period of intense asceticism in the mountains near Bodhgaya (India). It usually shows him in sitting position, with no more flesh on the ribs after intense fasting. The blood vessels show on the arms and neck, he has a long beard and is dressed in the ascetics robe of not very much. His eyes are hollow from lack of sleep and food.
This type of statue is also called the "Fasting Buddha" or the "Starving Buddha".

This type of statue, called "Kugyoo Zoo"　(苦行像 ) in Japanese is rather common in India, especially Gandhara, whereas here in Japan it is not very common. This particular one is a replica from the famous statue in the Lahore Museum, made of a special stone which gives a lovely ring-ring sound when you know on the halo behind the head. He sits in my garden now, positioned so I can see him from my favorite seat inside. At all seasons, he is a treat to look at, but with the flaming azalea in May it is just fascinating.

He arrived here in my valley with a normal transportation service, just wrapped in a blanket, and it took three to carry him to his present position. He seems happy to be here, just as I am happy to have him here.

By the way, the real Gautama soon gave up his asceticism, realizing it does not lead to enlightenment. He walked down the mountain, bathed in a river, ate some curd which the maiden Sucharta offered him and then sat down under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya.


Here is the famous statue from the
Lahore Museum.



From an Article in 2004

Fasting Buddha at Lahore Museum attracts Japanese aid

Nobuaki Tanaka, the Japanese ambassador to Pakistan has agreed during a visit to the Lahore Museum in October, to provide technical know-how to the museum, museum sources told the Daily Times on Thursday.

Lahore Museum, situated near Tollinton Market, is the oldest museum in the country and was established in 1864 under the name ‘Industrial Art Museum of the Punjab’. The Gandhara gallery showcases Mahayana Buddhist religious sculptures. Mahayana Buddhism originated and flourished during the first five centuries of the Christian era.

The showcases present the life story of Buddha in frieze panels and statues from his pervious incarnations, his birth, youth, enlightenment preaching of the law and death. Gandhara art is important for introducing the image of Buddha and the iconography developed has influenced Buddhist religious art everywhere.

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=4,177,0,0,1,0



But later on May 2005 we can read this one:

Lahore Museum refuses to exhibit ‘Fasting Buddha’ in Japan

By Shoaib Ahmed

The Lahore Museum has rejected an offer to exhibit several items from the museum, including the priceless ‘Fasting Buddha’ and the ‘Miracle of Saraswatti’, in an exhibition on Gandhara art in Japan.

Sources told Daily Times that a Japanese cultural delegation, including the Japanese director of press, information and culture, recently met with Lahore Museum Director Dr Liaquat Niazi at the museum.

They said the meeting had been arranged by the Federal Ministry of Culture to discuss the possibilities of exhibiting items from the Lahore Museum in the Japanese exhibition.

According to sources, Dr Niazi asked the delegation what ‘benefits’ he would receive for sending the items to the exhibition. They quoted him as saying the objects would be sent only if they were accompanied with two personnel from the Lahore Museum, and if the delegation got several books from the museum translated into Japanese.

Sources said the delegation was ‘discouraged’ by this response and quoted the delegation as saying they were not a donor agency and were not interested in spending money on the Lahore Museum.



According to sources, by rejecting the Japanese delegation’s offer, the Lahore Museum has cost the country billions of rupees in foreign exchange.
They said that during the nine-month long travelling exhibition, many Japanese would get the opportunity to see the famous ‘Fasting Buddha’.
They said this would give the Japanese incentive to visit Pakistan to view other similar artefacts, thus earning the country significant foreign exchange through tourism.

Sources added that the exhibition would also give Pakistan an opportunity to prove false Indian claims that the Gandhara civilisation hailed from India. In the past, such exhibitions would have one stall for South Asia, which would contain both Indian and Pakistani exhibits. Sources said that according to the Pakistani ambassador to Japan, this time Pakistan would have its own stall.
When Daily Times attempted to contact Dr Niazi, he said he was driving and could not speak; he then switched off his cellular phone. When contacted at home, Dr Niazi again refused to comment.

Speaking to Daily Times, Secretary Information and Culture Kamran Lashari said the ‘safety conditions’ for the objects to be sent to the Japanese exhibition were not adequate. He added that the board of governors of the Lahore Museum also did not feel comfortable with the security being provided for the objects.

Mr Lashari said it had earlier been agreed in principal that given certain safety requirements, the objects would be sent to Japan. He added that he did not yet know whether or not the objects would be sent to the Japanese exhibition.

Daily Times - All Rights Reserved
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_31-5-2002_pg7_7



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Within the study of Buddhist art, the pieces of Gandhara are of special value. Here is a short abstract.

Gandhara Civilization

Pakistan is the land which attracted Alexander the great from Macedonia in 326 B.C., with whom the influence of Greek culture came to this part of the world. During the 2nd century B.C., it was here that Buddhism was adopted as the state religion which flourished and prevailed here for over 1000 years, starting from 2nd century B.C., until 10th century A.D. During this time Taxila, Swat and Charsaddah (old Pushkalavati) became three important centres for culture, trade and learning. Hundreds of monasteries and stupas were built together with Greek and Kushan towns such as Sirkap and Sirsukh both in Taxila.

It was from these centres that a unique art of sculpture originated which is known as Gandhara Art all over the world. Today the Gandhara Sculptures occupy a prominent place in the museums of England, France, Germany, USA, Japan, Korea, China, India and Afghanistan together with many private collections world over, as well as in the museums of Pakistan. Nevertheless, the zenith of this Gandhara Art is one and only "Fasting Buddha" now on display in Lahore Museum, Lahore.

Finally, the light of Islam penetrated in this part of the world as early as 7th century AD. from the west with the Arabs and during the 10th century AD from the north with the Turks. Islam replaced the early way of life of worshipping idols and introduced new philosophy of faith in one God. With Islam in came a new culture in this land from Arabia and Central Asia. Hence, a new type of architecture, hitherto unknown in this area, was introduced.

Tens of thousands of Mosques, Madrassahs, tombs and gardens were created by the Muslim rulers all over the Sub-Continent. The new style of Islamic architecture prevailed and matured in this land for over a thousand years. The most important contribution of the Muslim rulers to this land, however, is a new language ‘Urdu’ which became the national language of Pakistan since its independence in 1947.

The legacy of our predecessors at the time of our independence, on August 14, 1947, came to us as a treasure which may be called as Pakistan’s national heritage. So rich and diversified is this heritage that Pakistani nation can be proud of its glorious past, be Islamic, Post Islamic or pre-Islamic period as far back as pre-historic times. It is hard to find another country which can produce the treasure of by gone days as can be found in Pakistan. It is now incumbent upon us to treasure our national heritage and save it from further deterioration and theft.
http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/gandhara.html

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Scale replica of the famous original in the Lahore Museum. Gandhara Buddhist period in the Northwset Frontier Province, 2nd to 3rd century A.D.Stucco, 6 x 4 inches.

Although also from Pakistan, this is not an ancient Indus replica.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/harappa/fastingbuddha.html

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This Replica is from the temple Seikoo-In in Kawaguchi.


http://www.ukima.info/meisho/kawaguti/seikouin/kugyo.htm


仏像は西洋と東洋が出会い生まれた美術品です。苦行釈迦像はそんな出会いの代表的な産物です。
西洋的な品だけに囲まれた生活は心をささくれ立たせます。でも、完全に伝統的な品物にも違和感を感じます。私たちの心のオアシスになるような造形物は滅多にありません。

Here is a replica detail where you can see all the blood vessels



More details are here and the statue is for sale too.
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/naka/528489/563193/568950/

If you look carefully, you will observe his hands are in a sort of outstreched position, palms open and thumbs stretched near the forefinger.
Later statues showing Amida Buddha (a Deity after Enlightenment), the thumb and forefinger usually form a ring, symbolizing the hidden teachings of Gautama after his asceticism.


Look at the nine possible versions of the mudra positions of Amida.
Some of them have been shown throughout this article. They all have a different teaching about the ways a human being finds enlightenment.
http://www.infobears.ne.jp/athome/fukusuke291/ho-in-amida.htm


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Marc Quinn's sculpture of Kate Moss
"Road to Enlightenment" (2006)
The bronze sculptural surface, says the artist, is a site for the projection of spectator desire.

"Skin of/in Contemporary Art"
National Museum of Art, Osaka 2007

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Here is a great article about the development of Buddhist Art.
http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/lordbuddha


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Here he is in 2008 !
Buddha and Azaleas 2008
With more photos of Azaleas in my Garden 2008.


More of my ... Stone Buddhas .. 石仏


Shaka and Frog Adventures
With more LINKs to my Stone Buddhas !

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