Wednesday 28 November 2012

The role of metal icons in the spread and development of Buddhism


Friday 30 November | 20th Gonda lecture

Carrying Buddhism

The role of metal icons in the spread and development of Buddhism

The Gonda Foundation and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences cordially invite you to the 20th Gonda Lecture by Robert L. Brown, Professor of Indian and Southeast Asian art at the University of California at Los Angeles, and Curator of South and Southeast Asian art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Date and time: 30 November 2012, 4 pm
Venue: Trippenhuis, Kloveniersburgwal 29, Amsterdam
It is usually assumed that icons of metal have played an important role in Indian religious traditions from the earliest appearance of art, specifically in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions from as early as the third century BCE. Evidence indicates, however, that the production of metal icons was rare up until the fifth century CE, and even then was unusual. The production of metal icons began in any numbers only in the sixth and seventh centuries, at which time they were produced in enormous numbers.

In his lecture, Professor Brown will explore the implications of this dating of Buddhist metal image production. He will argue that the creation of metal images in India happened at the same time as the appearance of metal images in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Thus, the appearance of the icons in both South and Southeast Asia does not follow the standard scholarly explanation that Buddhism arrived sequentially as Hinayana, Mahayana, and Tantric. In fact, the Buddhism of the sixth and seventh centuries reflects elements of all these categories that were moving together at the same time.

About Robert L. Brown
Robert L. Brown is Professor of Indian and Southeast Asian art at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and Curator of South and Southeast Asian art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). His research focuses on the relationship of South Asian culture, religion, and art to the cultures, religions, and art of Southeast Asia.

Admission and more information Admission to the lecture is free, but please register in advance by submitting the online registration form or by sending an e-mail to bernadette.peeters@bureau.knaw.nl

More information on the 20th Gonda Lecture by Robert L. Brown can be found at theKNAW website

Last Modified: 16-10-2012

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