Resources

Create your own brush-painted masterpiece.

Buddhism has deeply influenced the character and evolution of Asian civilization over the past 2,500 years. It is based on the teachings of a historical figure, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived around the fifth century BCE. As it moved across Asia, Buddhism absorbed indigenous beliefs and incorporated a wide range of imagery, both local and foreign, into its art and religious practices. Buddhism continues to evolve as a religion in many parts of the world.

View the whole series of religious arts in South Asia.

Beginning in the Eastern Zhou dynasty (ca. 1071‒ 221 BCE) was the development of the so-called ‘hundred schools’ of philosophy, a creative flowering of genius that laid the foundations for all major schools of Chinese thought with the exception of Buddhism. At this time, philosophers began to travel around from court to court offering advice on everything from how to run the state, how to achieve victory in battle and how to achieve immortality.

Create Balinese shadow puppets with these downloadable templates.

Hexagonal kettle (kama) with design of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, by Seishin (Japanese), approx. 1500–1700. Japan; Kyoto. Iron, copper alloys. The Avery Brundage Collection, B69M11.A-.B.