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Understanding Goal 4

To learn the varieties of Buddhism

Lesson 7, 8

Understanding Performance

Students will learn how to read the iconography of Buddhist art by viewing the slide presentation on Art and Architecture of the Himalayan Region by Professor Dina Bangdel, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Students will look at the following Buddhist images and make comparisons to learn about influences of other cultures on Chinese Buddhist art and Chinese Buddhism and vice versa::

Hinyana /Theravada Buddhism: the attainment of wisdom to bring the goal of salvation
Mahayana Buddhism: the attainment of compassion to bring the whole chain of beings to salvation
Vajrayana/Tantric Buddhism: in addition to compassion, the usage of magic spells (mantras) and occult diagrams (mandalas) brings the goal of salvation.

Students will view the VCD on the Potala Palace in Tibet which contains Buddhist art on the three varieties of Buddhism.

The Potala Palace

Students will view art presenting the various Buddhas and Boddhisattvas. They will also refine their research by viewing the collections of Buddhist art from the websites of: Art of Asia ; The Boston Museum of Art ; The Bristish Museum ;The Metropolitan Museum of Art ; The Rubin Museum (Himalayan Art) ; Worcester Museum of Art. According to their research they will compile together a Who's Who in the Buddhist Pantheon and present orally their biographies. More readings are made available to them on this topic.

Buddhist Pantheon

Ongoing Assessment:

Students will prepare a chart showing the similarities and differences of the three varieties of Buddhism.