The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings
The figure holding a bow on Gandhāran illustrations of the Bodhisattva’s departure from Kapilavastu has been the subject of controversy. First identified as Māra and Indra, the interpretation proposed by K. Tanabe that the protagonist is Vaiśravaṇa-Kubera rallied broader consensus. The present reass...
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Online Access: | https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/150 |
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doaj-87c0dda3495f4157819fb3aeca1589002020-11-25T03:50:09ZengCERES / KHK BochumEntangled Religions - Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Religious Contact and Transfer 2363-66962014-10-01110.13154/er.v1.2014.15-94170The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New ReadingsJessie PonsThe figure holding a bow on Gandhāran illustrations of the Bodhisattva’s departure from Kapilavastu has been the subject of controversy. First identified as Māra and Indra, the interpretation proposed by K. Tanabe that the protagonist is Vaiśravaṇa-Kubera rallied broader consensus. The present reassessment takes into account the multi-cultural and multi-religious context of production of the images, namely the Kushan era, to offer additional readings of the Gandhāran figure. The approach is two-fold. The examination of written and visual traditions of representing the episode is complemented by the analysis of the Gandhāran iconography in light of material from various cultural strands which came into contact in the region. As a final step, the article considers possible logics which might have constrained the construction of the Gandhāran portrayals and tests the hypothesis that further divinities from religious trends coeval in Gandhāra may be recognized under the guises of the bow-holder. https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/150GandhāraBuddhist iconographygreat departureVaiśravaṇa-Kuberamultiple identitiesKushan era |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jessie Pons |
spellingShingle |
Jessie Pons The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings Entangled Religions - Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Religious Contact and Transfer Gandhāra Buddhist iconography great departure Vaiśravaṇa-Kubera multiple identities Kushan era |
author_facet |
Jessie Pons |
author_sort |
Jessie Pons |
title |
The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings |
title_short |
The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings |
title_full |
The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings |
title_fullStr |
The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings |
title_sort |
figure with a bow in gandhāran great departure scenes. some new readings |
publisher |
CERES / KHK Bochum |
series |
Entangled Religions - Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Religious Contact and Transfer |
issn |
2363-6696 |
publishDate |
2014-10-01 |
description |
The figure holding a bow on Gandhāran illustrations of the Bodhisattva’s departure from Kapilavastu has been the subject of controversy. First identified as Māra and Indra, the interpretation proposed by K. Tanabe that the protagonist is Vaiśravaṇa-Kubera rallied broader consensus. The present reassessment takes into account the multi-cultural and multi-religious context of production of the images, namely the Kushan era, to offer additional readings of the Gandhāran figure. The approach is two-fold. The examination of written and visual traditions of representing the episode is complemented by the analysis of the Gandhāran iconography in light of material from various cultural strands which came into contact in the region. As a final step, the article considers possible logics which might have constrained the construction of the Gandhāran portrayals and tests the hypothesis that further divinities from religious trends coeval in Gandhāra may be recognized under the guises of the bow-holder.
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topic |
Gandhāra Buddhist iconography great departure Vaiśravaṇa-Kubera multiple identities Kushan era |
url |
https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/150 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT jessiepons thefigurewithabowingandharangreatdeparturescenessomenewreadings AT jessiepons figurewithabowingandharangreatdeparturescenessomenewreadings |
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