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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Asian Sculpture
In Buddhist statuary, the lotus position depicts the Buddha __________.
standing on one leg
praying with a bowed head
blessing followers
sitting cross-legged
sitting cross-legged
Buddhism spread across Asia from the beginning of the first century CE to 500 CE; this resulted in the creation of a vast array of Buddhist art in a variety of countries. This art still had some unified themes, particularly in depictions of the Buddha, which could demonstrate important points to new believers. This includes the Buddha sitting in the lotus position, a cross-legged pose that is the chief position for Buddhist meditation and contemplative practices.
Example Question #2 : Asian Sculpture
In Hindu sculpture, a vahana refers to a deity's __________.
theological attributes
spouse
animal mount
clothing
animal mount
In Hindu mythology, every deity has a vahana, or animal mount. This has a number of purposes, ranging from highlighting certain attributes of a deity to creating different kinds of symbology from a plain depiction of the deity. Notable vahanas include Vishnu's eagle, Ganesha's mouse, and Laksmi's elephant.
Example Question #3 : Asian Sculpture
The physical layout of site encourages which of the following?
Circumambulation
Prostration
Axial progression
Bhakti
Corporate worship
Circumambulation
The circular plan of the stupa encourages adherents to walk around the sacred object in the middle, a movement otherwise known as circumambulation.
Image: Great Stupa at Sanchi commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, c. 300 BCE–100 CE. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi#/media/File:Sanchi_Stupa_from_Eastern_gate,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg.
Example Question #11 : Asian Sculpture
This image shows which of the following?
A religious structure that protects relics
A funerary monument honoring the emperor
A covered bathing complex
A monastery that houses monks
An imperial pleasure palace
A religious structure that protects relics
Commissioned by the emperor Ashoka during the 3rd century BCE, the Great Stupa at Sanchi was constructed to house the relics of the Buddha and is the oldest known stone structure in India.
Image: Great Stupa at Sanchi commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, c. 300 BCE–100 CE. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi#/media/File:Sanchi_Stupa_from_Eastern_gate,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg.
Example Question #11 : Asian Sculpture
A stupa is meant to represent __________________.
Buddha's entire body
None of these
Nataraja
Fertility
King Ashoka
Buddha's entire body
Stupas were built to represent Buddha's body. The top of the stupa was his head, the middle was his body, and the bottom was his crossed legs.
Example Question #181 : 3 D Art
What do Buddhist practitioners do at a stupa?
Sit in front of the stupa and meditate
Perform cleansing rituals in front of the stupa
Circumambulate the stupa while focusing on the teachings of Buddha
None of these
Sit inside the stupa and meditate on the teachings of Buddha
Circumambulate the stupa while focusing on the teachings of Buddha
The stupa is a solid object. Therefore it cannot be entered. Practitioners were meant to walk around the stupa, which is also known as circumambulation. This was meant to be a meditative walk that could allow the practitioner to think about the teachings of Buddha.
Example Question #14 : Asian Sculpture
For what were The David Vases made?
A Yuan Dynasty Emperor
An English nobleman
A Doaist temple
A Buddhist Temple
None of these
A Doaist temple
The David Vases were made for a Doaist temple alter. One of the most important parts of the vases are a dated inscription.
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Asian Sculpture
The work shown here was created with the intention of __________________.
illustrating a story from history
being utilized in religious ceremonies
challenging the conventional culture
honoring an important ruler
being utilized in religious ceremonies
This statue of Shiva was created under the Chola dynasty of southern India in the 10th century, a time and place in which the worship of Shiva was preeminent. Such a statue would have been used in religious ceremonies, particularly as the beliefs of the time held such gods as fully present in believers’ like not dissimilar from the ceremonial role of a monarch.
Image is in the public domain accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg
Example Question #16 : Asian Sculpture
Image by Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium (Sanchi, Stupa 1, western gateway) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Sanchi%2C_Stupa_1%2C_western_gateway_%289839922393%29.jpg>.
The Great Stupa at Sanchi is _________________.
a covered bathing complex
a funerary monument honoring the emperor
an imperial pleasure palace
a religious structure that protects relics
a monastery that houses monks
a religious structure that protects relics
Commissioned by the emperor Ashoka during the 3rd century BCE, the Great Stupa at Sanchi was constructed to house the relics of the Buddha and is the oldest known stone structure in India.
Image by Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium (Sanchi, Stupa 1, western gateway) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Sanchi%2C_Stupa_1%2C_western_gateway_%289839922393%29.jpg>.
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