Research Article
Buddhist Art in Pyu, the Ancient Kingdom of Myanmar, and the Influence of India
서강대학교 동아연구소
Published: January 2020 · Vol. 78, No. 0 · pp. 1-30
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33334/sieas.2020.39.1.1
Full Text
Abstract
The Pyu, one of the ancient kingdoms in Central Myanmar, had begun creating the Buddhist Art around the 4th century at the latest. This is in contrast to other regions of continental Southeast Asia where the Hindu Art was dominant. While the Buddhist Art of Pyu illustrates various aspects, the prevailing point of view is that it directly reflects the influence of the Andhra region in the southern region of India, and Sri Lanka. However, compared to those of Andhra’s, the body shape is much slimmer, they are dressed differently, and the way of folding clothes are handled differently. It is likely to be the influence of the Buddhist Arts of Sarnath and Nalanda, India. In fact, from Central Myanmar, it was able to travel towards Bangladesh by an overland route, or cross the sea from Tamralipti(眈麻立底), an important port in India, and head north along the Irawady River. The Buddhist Art of the Pyu found in Sri Kshetra was first affected by Central India during the Gupta period, and gradually accepted the arts of Southern India and Sri Lanka later. The Pyu, an ancient kingdom of Central Myanmar, had created a complex form of Buddhist Art by not only embracing the Buddhist cultures from an important region of India where Buddhism was developed but also applying their aesthetic senses.
