History of Indian and Eastern ArchitectureFergusson, James
History
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture
Fergusson, James
Architecture -- India; Architecture, Asian
Other sculptures represent sieges and fighting, and consequent triumphs,
but, so far as can be seen, for the acquisition of relics or subjects
connected with the faith. Others portray men and women eating and
drinking and making love, and otherwise occupied, in a manner as unlike
anything we have hitherto been accustomed to connect with Buddhism as
can well be imagined. Be this as it may, the sculptures of these
gateways form a perfect picture Bible of Buddhism as it existed in India
in the first century of the Christian Era, and as such are as important
historically as they are interesting artistically.[127]
The small tope (No. 3), on the same platform as the great tope at
Sanchi, was surrounded by a rail, which has now almost entirely
disappeared. It had, however, one toran, the pillars and one beam of
which are still standing. It is only about half the size of those of the
great tope, measuring about 17 ft. to the top of the upper beam, and 13
ft. across its lower beam. It is apparently somewhat more modern than
the great gateways, and its sculptures seem to have reference to the
acts of Sariputra and Moggalana, whose relics, as above mentioned, were
deposited in its womb.
This tope was only 40 ft. in diameter, which is about the same dimension
as No. 2 Tope, containing the relics of the ten apostles who took part
in the third convocation under Asoka, and afterwards in the diffusion of
the Buddhist religion in the countries bordering on India.
As above pointed out, the rails at Buddh Gaya and Bharhut afford a
similar picture of Buddhism at a time from two to three centuries
earlier. At first sight the difference is not so striking as might be
expected, but on a closer examination it is only too evident that both
the art and the morals had degenerated during the interval. There is a
precision and a sharpness about the Bharhut sculptures which is not
found here, and drinking and love-making do not occur in the earlier
sculptures--they do, however, occur at Buddh Gaya--to anything like the
extent they do at Sanchi. There is no instance at Bharhut of any figure
entirely nude; at Sanchi nudity among the females is rather the rule
than the exception. The objects of worship are nearly the same in both
instances, but are better expressed in the earlier than in the later
examples. Till, however, the Bharhut sculptures are published in the
same detail as those of Sanchi, it is hardly fair to insist too strongly
on any comparison that may be instituted between them. I believe I know
nearly all, but till the publication of General Cunningham’s work the
public will not have the same advantage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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