DOCSLIB.ORG

Gupta Period: Golden Age of India? Question

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gupta Period: Golden Age of India? Question Gupta Period: Golden Age of India? Question : Analyse the view that the characterization of the Gupta’s period as ‘golden’ is a myth. Answer: “There are as many histories as there are historians.” These words said by E.H. Carr are more than true in the case of the Guptas. The Gupta period has been subjected to a lot of scrutiny after the discovery of their records and deciphering their documents. While understanding if the Gupta age was really a Golden age in the history of India, we should first study the various kind of perspectives that existed. The various kinds of historiographies can be easily divided on their style of writing in various forms like colonialist’s historians, imperialists’ historians, nationalist historians and so on. So if colonialist’s historians would present history in such a manner so as to favour the colonials then the nationalists would present history in order to encourage nationalism and favour the sentiments of the indigenous population of the country. It is actually the Indian nationalist historians who have given the epithet of the golden age to the Gupta period. Failing to latch on to anything else, the Indian historians justifiably seized upon the documents of the Guptas and used them as a counter argument to the persistent British imperialist propaganda that India had no history except for a series of conquests by a succession of invaders. For historians writing in the early twentieth century, the “Golden age” had to be a utopia set in the distant past, and the period chosen by those working on the early history of India was one in which they perceived that the Hindu culture came to be firmly established. The glorification of Gupta period, at the time of the independence movement might have been seen as necessary but it no longer is. Hence, we should first understand why the Gupta period is seen as a golden age and see if it actually applies to them. To understand the Gupta period, we should first understand their empire. The beginnings of the empire are somewhat obscure, it is somewhat possible that the family was one of wealthy landowners who gradually gained a lot of political control in the rich lands of Magadha, gained supremacy and automatically became rulers. The Guptas are supposed to have been Vaishyas, and the dynasty came into its own with the accession of Chandra Gupta I, about whom not much is known except for the fact that he married a Lichchhavi princess, which it seems was done for the purpose of gaining political advance, considering that the Lichchhavis were an old established and highly favoured tribe. Chandra Gupta I ruled over Magadh and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and was succeeded by his son, Samudra Gupta in 135 AD. He was the most famous Gupta king, thanks to a long eulogy dedicated to him that is inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. Samdura Gupta expanded his reign all over the Indian sub continent including the decan regions, including Ceylon. Samudra Gupta was succeeded by Chandra Gupta II, who is reputed to have shown the most chivalrous and heroic qualities among all the Gupta kings. His reign lasted for approximately forty years (375 AD-415 AD). There is confusion as to who the next ruler was. Some scholars suggest it was Kumar Gupta who was Chandra Gupta II’s son while others suggest it was someone named Rama Gupta. After that, Skandagupta ruled the empire till 467 AD which was followed by the succession of several kings who could not keep the empire intact. A major blow came to the Gupta power towards the end of the fifth century when the Huns entered North India in large numbers which ultimately led to the decline of the Guptas. Now that we know the basic outline of the Gupta period, let us see the various achievements of the Gupta period in various different fields which have given reason to historians to see the Gupta period as a golden age. ADMINISTRATION The Guptas had a highly organized system of provincial and local administration. The empire was divided into divisions called Bhuktis and each Bhukti was placed under the charge of an Uparika. Bhuktis were further divided into districts and placed under the charge of a vishayapati. In the urban administration, organized professional bodies were given a considerable say. They had a highly centralized empire in the beginning, in which there was a group is superior officers known as kumaramatyas. It was from them that important officers like the ministers and military commanders were selected. This ensured that the influential officers came from a selected class, very often they were personally chosen by the king himself. These officers were in turn responsible for the entire maintenance of the kingdom, which shows their efficiency, considering the large territory of the Gupta empire. The Gupta kings were highly accomplished. The second Gupta king, Samudra Gupta, conquered the entire Indian subcontinent. The places conquered by him were divided into five groups. Group one includes the princes of the Ganga-Yamuna doab, the second group includes the rulers of eastern Himalayan states and some frontier states such as Nepal, Assam and Bengal. Group three includes the forest kingdoms of the Vindhyan regions. Group four includes twelve rulers of the eastern Deccan and South India who were conquered and later liberated, while group five includes the name of Shakas and Kushanas as far as Afghanistan. Samudra Gupta is known as the Napoleon of India and he delighted in violence and conquest. His prestige and influence spread even outside of India and his magnificent conquests show his skills as a great military commander and the fact that he was able to maintain these territories under his control shows that he had impressive administrative control over them. Under the reign of Chandra Gupta II, though there wasn’t much territorial expansion for the obvious reason that there were hardly any territories left to be conquered, Chandra Gupta did take some important political decisions. He extended the limits of the empire by marriage alliance and conquers. He married his daughter Prabhavati to a Vakataka prince of the Brahmna caste and ruled in central India. The prince died, and soon his daughter virtually became the ruler. Chandra Gupta gained control over Mathura, defeating the Kushanas and also over the western sea coast. It was during Chandra Gupta’s reign that the Chinese pilgrim Fa- Hsein visited India and wrote an elaborate account of the life of its people and stressed on the impressive administrative policies of the Guptas. ECONOMY According to Fa-Hsein’s account, Magadha, capital of the Gupta empire was full of cities and its rich people believed in and supported it with charitable offerings. We know that revenue came from mainly the land, commercial activities didn’t provide a large income. Guilds were a common feature, and they continued as the major institution in the manufacture of goods and in commercial enterprise. They had their own laws, which the government generally agreed with. Manufacture of textiles of various kinds was seen among the more important industries of this time. Silk, muslin, calico, linen, wool and cotton were produced in great quantities. Ivory work was also practised as a premium activity as did stone cutting and carving. Metal work also continued as one of the essential industries. Gupta kings issued a large number of gold coins, which were not only used to pay the salary of the officials serving in the army and the administration but also to meet the needs of sale and purchase of land. The use of gold for the purpose of trading points towards the prosperity of the Gupta period. LITERATURE In literature, the Gupta period witnessed an efflorescence. Important developments took place in the sphere of Sanskrit literature during this period. This is one of the major reasons why the nationalists chose the Gupta age to represent the golden age because it is supposed to have established the roots of Hinduism and propagate it. Sanskrit language and literature, after centuries of evolution and through lavish royal patronage reached what has been described as classical excellence, with some scholars even going to the extent of calling the Gupta age as the Classical age. Among the known Sanskrit poets of this period, the greatest name is that of Kalidasa, who has written Meghaduta and Raghuvamsha and one of the most popular plays, Abhijnanashakuntala. Several other dramatists also flourished during this period like Shudraka. Erotica became a prominent feature of the gupta period, of which the Kamasutra is a relevant example. This period also saw an increase in religious literature. The epics and majors of Puranas were given final shape and form and these texts form important sources for religious and cultural processes of those times. Some important Astronomical works like aryabhatiyam authored by Aryabhata were written. ART AND ARCHITECTURE In the history of Indian art and architecture, the Gupta period occupies an important place. Both Samudra Gupta and Chandra Gupta were great patrons of art and literature. Both the Nagara and Dravidian styles of art evolved during this period. But most of the architecture of this period had been lost due to foreign invasions like that of Huns. Yet, the remaining temples, sculptures and cave paintings provide an idea about the grandeur of the Gupta art. This period is also consider a pioneer for it was supposed to be in this period that the images of various Hindu gods like Vishnu, Shiva were fashioned for the very first time. The temple at Deogarh near Jhansi and the sculptures in the temple at Garhwas near Allahabad remain important specimen of the Gupta art.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Succession After Kumaragupta I
    Copyright Notice This paper has been accepted for publication by the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, which is published by Cambridge University Press. A final version of the article will be appearing in the JRAS in 2014. 1 The Succession after Kumāragupta I Pankaj Tandon1 Most dynastic lists of the Gupta kings state that Kumāragupta I was succeeded by Skandagupta. However, it is widely accepted that Skandagupta did not accede to the throne peacefully. Nor is it certain that the succession was immediate, since there is a gap between the known dates of Kumāragupta’s and Skandagupta’s reigns. This paper is concerned with the events following the death of Kumāragupta, using numismatic evidence as the primary source, and inscriptional and other epigraphic evidence as further support. Some of the numismatic evidence is new, and even the evidence that is not new has so far received little attention in the literature on the succession after Kumāragupta. Questions are raised about one particular theory that is presently enjoying some currency, that Skandagupta was challenged primarily by his uncle Ghaṭotkacagupta. Some other possible scenarios for the political events in the period after the death of Kumāragupta I will then be proposed and analyzed. Most authors agree that Skandagupta was not the rightful heir to the throne. While he does announce himself on his inscriptions as the son of Kumāragupta I, his mother is not identified by name in any known text or inscription,2 suggesting that he was, at best, the son of a minor queen of Kumāragupta, or more probably the son of a woman who was not a queen at all.
    [Show full text]
  • {Download PDF} the Formation of the Colonial State in India 1St Edition
    THE FORMATION OF THE COLONIAL STATE IN INDIA 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Tony Cleaver | 9781134494293 | | | | | The Formation of the Colonial State in India 1st edition PDF Book Additionally, several Indian Princely States provided large donations to support the Allied campaign during the War. Under the charter, the Supreme Court, moreover, had the authority to exercise all types of jurisdiction in the region of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, with the only caveat that in situations where the disputed amount was in excess of Rs. During this age India's economy expanded, relative peace was maintained and arts were patronized. Routledge Handbook of Gender in South Asia. British Raj. Two four anna stamps issued in Description Contents Reviews Preview "Colonial and Postcolonial Geographies of India offers a good introduction to and basis for rethinking the ways in which academics theorize and teach the geographies of peoples, places, and regions. Circumscription theory Legal anthropology Left—right paradigm State formation Political economy in anthropology Network Analysis and Ethnographic Problems. With the constituting of the Ceded and Conquered Provinces in , the jurisdiction would extend as far west as Delhi. Contracts were awarded in to the East Indian Railway Company to construct a mile railway from Howrah -Calcutta to Raniganj ; to the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company for a service from Bombay to Kalyan , thirty miles away; and to the Madras Railway Company for a line from Madras city to Arkonam , a distance of some thirty nine miles. The interdisciplinary work throws new light on pressing contemporary issues as well as on issues during the colonial period.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sweep of History
    STUDENT’S World History & Geography 1 1 1 Essentials of World History to 1500 Ver. 3.1.10 – Rev. 2/1/2011 WHG1 The following pages describe significant people, places, events, and concepts in the story of humankind. This information forms the core of our study; it will be fleshed-out by classroom discussions, audio-visual mat erials, readings, writings, and other act ivit ies. This knowledge will help you understand how the world works and how humans behave. It will help you understand many of the books, news reports, films, articles, and events you will encounter throughout the rest of your life. The Student’s Friend World History & Geography 1 Essentials of world history to 1500 History What is history? History is the story of human experience. Why study history? History shows us how the world works and how humans behave. History helps us make judgments about current and future events. History affects our lives every day. History is a fascinating story of human treachery and achievement. Geography What is geography? Geography is the study of interaction between humans and the environment. Why study geography? Geography is a major factor affecting human development. Humans are a major factor affecting our natural environment. Geography affects our lives every day. Geography helps us better understand the peoples of the world. CONTENTS: Overview of history Page 1 Some basic concepts Page 2 Unit 1 - Origins of the Earth and Humans Page 3 Unit 2 - Civilization Arises in Mesopotamia & Egypt Page 5 Unit 3 - Civilization Spreads East to India & China Page 9 Unit 4 - Civilization Spreads West to Greece & Rome Page 13 Unit 5 - Early Middle Ages: 500 to 1000 AD Page 17 Unit 6 - Late Middle Ages: 1000 to 1500 AD Page 21 Copyright © 1998-2011 Michael G.
    [Show full text]
  • Devaluating the Nandas -A Big Loss to the History of India
    IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 21, Issue 9, Ver. 8 (Sep. 2016) PP 17-20 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org Devaluating The Nandas -A Big Loss To The History Of India SANJAY CHAUDHARI Department Of History,Culture And Archaeology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Abstract: Indian historians could be blamed for having hostile attitude towards the Nandas. Though Nandas established the first ever empire, covering almost area of present India, they were never recognized for the same. Almost Indian historians neglected their acheivements and have tried to reduce the span of their rule. The Nandas have been referred by distant people of ancient Iran and the classical writers of the Greece. Their strength has been narrated by the scholars who accompanied Alexander in India. Interesting to state that no evidences are available which could confirm the war, that took place between the last Nanda and Chandragupta. Even though the historians narrated the event stating it as a revolution by the people which ousted the last Nanda king. There are few Sanskrit chronicles which connected Chandragupta to Nanda King. These chronicles have stated that Chandragupta was the legitimate son of the last Nanda king. But Indian historians tried their best to present Buddhist evidences which state Chandragupta a resident of Pippalvana and related to Nandas any way. To devaluate the Nandas has created a big historical loss to our ancient history. The whole period from Indus valley civilization to the establishment of sixteen Mahajanapadas is still in the dark.
    [Show full text]
  • Ancient Indian Art – a Formal Analysis Dr
    Ancient Indian Art – A formal analysis Dr. Uma Chakraborty ABSTRACT Distinctive artistic activity in ancient India began with Harappan miniature art pieces. An art, monumental in conception and precise in execution is noticed in the Mauryan period.The native style of simplicity and folk appeal is best represented in the narrative Sunga art which forms a treasure house of fables, visually represented.The Kushana sculptures fostered a mixed culture with Graeco-Roman affiliation.The sensuous sculptural art that bloomed at Amaravati and Nagarjunikonda display a mastery in detailed ornamentation.The human figure, the pivot of Gupta sculpture expressed a characteristically refined taste and charm .The synthesis culminated in the Pala-Sena period is a fusion of classical mannerism with the indigenous style of Bengal. The magnificent open air bas-relief sculpted out of rockat Mahabalipuram glorifies Pallava art. Casting of bronzes under the imperial Cholas was an age of refinement of Dravidian art.This innovation and creativity exerted lasting influence on the art movement that glorify our cultural past. Key words : Art, sculpture, relief, terracotta, bronze, Introduction Art forms are expression of people belonging to different cultural and social groups. History of Indian art begins with the pre-historic cave paintings. It is considered as an evidence of a creative explosion when the minds of ancient humans became fully developed. Generally speaking Indian art is an anonymous art, as the sculptor or the artist never sought to glorify himself. He always gave his best as a humble offering to his patron, the king or exercised his imaginative impulse through his creations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Decline of Buddhism in India
    The Decline of Buddhism in India It is almost impossible to provide a continuous account of the near disappearance of Buddhism from the plains of India. This is primarily so because of the dearth of archaeological material and the stunning silence of the indigenous literature on this subject. Interestingly, the subject itself has remained one of the most neglected topics in the history of India. In this book apart from the history of the decline of Buddhism in India, various issues relating to this decline have been critically examined. Following this methodology, an attempt has been made at a region-wise survey of the decline in Sind, Kashmir, northwestern India, central India, the Deccan, western India, Bengal, Orissa, and Assam, followed by a detailed analysis of the different hypotheses that propose to explain this decline. This is followed by author’s proposed model of decline of Buddhism in India. K.T.S. Sarao is currently Professor and Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies at the University of Delhi. He holds doctoral degrees from the universities of Delhi and Cambridge and an honorary doctorate from the P.S.R. Buddhist University, Phnom Penh. The Decline of Buddhism in India A Fresh Perspective K.T.S. Sarao Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-215-1241-1 First published 2012 © 2012, Sarao, K.T.S. All rights reserved including those of translation into other languages. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
    [Show full text]
  • Gupta Empire and Their Rulers – History Notes
    Gupta Empire and Their Rulers – History Notes Posted On April 28, 2020 By Cgpsc.Info Home » CGPSC Notes » History Notes » Gupta Empire and Their Rulers Gupta Empire and Their Rulers – The Gupta period marks the important phase in the history of ancient India. The long and e¸cient rule of the Guptas made a huge impact on the political, social and cultural sphere. Though the Gupta dynasty was not widespread as the Maurya Empire, but it was successful in creating an empire that is signiÛcant in the history of India. The Gupta period is also known as the “classical age” or “golden age” because of progress in literature and culture. After the downfall of Kushans, Guptas emerged and kept North India politically united for more than a century. Early Rulers of Gupta dynasty (Gupta Empire) :- Srigupta – I (270 – 300 C.E.): He was the Ûrst ruler of Magadha (modern Bihar) who established Gupta dynasty (Gupta Empire) with Pataliputra as its capital. Ghatotkacha Gupta (300 – 319 C.E): Both were not sovereign, they were subordinates of Kushana Rulers Chandragupta I (319 C.E. to 335 C.E.): Laid the foundation of Gupta rule in India. He assumed the title “Maharajadhiraja”. He issued gold coins for the Ûrst time. One of the important events in his period was his marriage with a Lichchavi (Kshatriyas) Princess. The marriage alliance with Kshatriyas gave social prestige to the Guptas who were Vaishyas. He started the Gupta Era in 319-320C.E. Chandragupta I was able to establish his authority over Magadha, Prayaga,and Saketa. Calendars in India 58 B.C.
    [Show full text]
  • The Gupta Empire: an Indian Golden Age the Gupta Empire, Which Ruled
    The Gupta Empire: An Indian Golden Age The Gupta Empire, which ruled the Indian subcontinent from 320 to 550 AD, ushered in a golden age of Indian civilization. It will forever be remembered as the period during which literature, science, and the arts flourished in India as never before. Beginnings of the Guptas Since the fall of the Mauryan Empire in the second century BC, India had remained divided. For 500 years, India was a patchwork of independent kingdoms. During the late third century, the powerful Gupta family gained control of the local kingship of Magadha (modern-day eastern India and Bengal). The Gupta Empire is generally held to have begun in 320 AD, when Chandragupta I (not to be confused with Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the Mauryan Empire), the third king of the dynasty, ascended the throne. He soon began conquering neighboring regions. His son, Samudragupta (often called Samudragupta the Great) founded a new capital city, Pataliputra, and began a conquest of the entire subcontinent. Samudragupta conquered most of India, though in the more distant regions he reinstalled local kings in exchange for their loyalty. Samudragupta was also a great patron of the arts. He was a poet and a musician, and he brought great writers, philosophers, and artists to his court. Unlike the Mauryan kings after Ashoka, who were Buddhists, Samudragupta was a devoted worshipper of the Hindu gods. Nonetheless, he did not reject Buddhism, but invited Buddhists to be part of his court and allowed the religion to spread in his realm. Chandragupta II and the Flourishing of Culture Samudragupta was briefly succeeded by his eldest son Ramagupta, whose reign was short.
    [Show full text]
  • Teacher Overview: ​What Led to the Gupta Golden Age? How Did The
    Please Read: We encourage all teachers to modify the materials to meet the needs of their students. To create a ​ ​ ​ ​ version of this document that you can edit: 1. Make sure you are signed into a Google account when you are on the resource. 2. Go to the "File" pull down menu in the upper left hand corner and select "Make a Copy." This will give you a version of the document that you own and can modify. Teacher Overview: What led to the Gupta Golden Age? ​ How did the Gupta Golden Age impact India, other regions, and later periods in history? Unit Essential Question(s): How did classical civilizations gain, consolidate, maintain and ​ lose their power? | Link to Unit ​ Supporting Question(s): ● What led to the Gupta Golden Age? How did the Gupta Golden Age impact India, other regions, and later periods in history? Objective(s): ● Contextualize the Gupta Golden Age. ​ ● Explain the impact of the Gupta Golden Age on India, other regions, and later ​ periods in history. Go directly to student-facing materials! Alignment to State Standards 1. NYS Social Studies Framework: ​ Key Idea Conceptual Understandings Content Specifications 9.3 CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS: 9.3c A period of peace, prosperity, and Students will examine the achievements EXPANSION, ACHIEVEMENT, DECLINE: cultural achievements can be designated of Greece, Gupta, Han Dynasty, Maya, Classical civilizations in Eurasia and as a Golden Age. and Rome to determine if the civilizations Mesoamerica employed a variety of experienced a Golden Age. methods to expand and maintain control over vast territories. They developed lasting cultural achievements.
    [Show full text]
  • Name Dr. Vishesh Kumar Gupta Name in Publications Dr. Vishesh Gupta Father's Name Late Shri Hargulal Gupta Mother's Name
    Name Dr. Vishesh Kumar Gupta Name in Dr. Vishesh Gupta Publications Father’s Name Late Shri Hargulal Gupta Mother’s Smt. Vidya Wati Name Date of Birth 20th April 1956 Marital Status Married Spouse Name Dr. Sushma Gupta Address 2/ 125, Buddhi Vihar, Awas Vikas Colony, Delhi Road, Moradabad-244103 (UP) India (Permanent) Address Maharaja Harishchandra P. G. College, Moradabad-244001 (UP) India (Office) Email [email protected] [email protected] Contact 09412245301 Numbers Academic Qualification: M. A. (Sociology), Ph. D. Area of Specialization Sociology of Community Development Theory and Methods in Indian Sociology Sociology of Leisure, Sports and Tourism Research Name of Specialization University Status Year Title of Thesis Degree Degree Doctorate MJP Awarded 1989 The Process of Institutionalization of Rohilkhand Sikhs Shrines-with Special University Reference to Prominent Sikh Shrines Bareilly in Delhi Present Employment Employer Status of Present Date of Contract / Nature of Work Place Institution Designation Appointm Permanent ent Manager Maharaja Associate Permanent Teaching and Guiding Moradabad Harishchandra Professor the students at the UG P. G. College, , PG and Research Moradabad Level Quasi Govt. Previous Position Held Post Held Place Nature of Work Contract / Permanent / Deputation OSD / State Liaison Officer Higher UP Secretariat, State Level NSS Deputation Education (NSS Cell) Vidhan Bhawan, Structure Promotion, From 14-12-2006 to 15- Lucknow Improvement and Career 12-2008 Guiding Programme Coordinator, National
    [Show full text]
  • From the Renaissance to England's Golden
    HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY From the Martin Luther Renaissance to England’s Golden Age Reader Flying machine Queen Elizabeth I Printing press The Renaissance 1-89 The Reformation 91-145 England in the Golden Age 147-201 Creative Commons Licensing This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. You are free: to Share—to copy, distribute, and transmit the work to Remix—to adapt the work Under the following conditions: Attribution—You must attribute the work in the following manner: This work is based on an original work of the Core Knowledge® Foundation (www.coreknowledge.org) made available through licensing under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This does not in any way imply that the Core Knowledge Foundation endorses this work. Noncommercial—You may not use this work for commercial purposes. Share Alike—If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one. With the understanding that: For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. The best way to do this is with a link to this web page: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Copyright © 2017 Core Knowledge Foundation www.coreknowledge.org All Rights Reserved. Core Knowledge®, Core Knowledge Curriculum Series™, Core Knowledge History and Geography™ and CKHG™ are trademarks of the Core Knowledge Foundation. Trademarks and trade names are shown in this book strictly for illustrative and educational purposes and are the property of their respective owners.
    [Show full text]
  • The Gupta Style of the Buddha & Its Influence in Asia
    The Gupta style of the Buddha & its influence in Asia This sculpture of the Buddha Sakyamuni can be assigned to the late 6th or early 7th century, a period in which the Gupta Dynasty- style of northern and north eastern India was at its summit. The Gupta period (4th to 6th century) is noted as a time during which the quintessential Buddha image was created, becoming an iconic form which was disseminated and copied throughout the Asian Buddhist world. Gupta style stands at a crossroads in art historical developments in the sub-continent. The Gupta style embodies the earlier figurative styles of north and north west India (Mathura and Gandhara), while achieving a new power and sophistication. It is noted for the full, sensuous modelling of faces and bodies, for a subtlety of expression and for the harmonious proportions of its figures. During these centuries the workshops at Sarnath, a monastic complex built on the site of the Buddha's first sermon, became especially artistically influential. A Standing figure of the Buddha Sakyamuni, Eastern India, particular type of standing Buddha probably Bihar, late 6th-early 7th century. Copper alloy. Museum no. Museum no. IS.3-2004 Source URL: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-gupta-style -of-the-buddha-and-its-influence-on-asia/ Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/arth406/#1.4.1 © Victoria and Albert Museum Saylor.org Used by permission. Page 1 of 7 image was produced here whose body is covered by a diaphanous robe, which clings to the figure while flaring at the sides.
    [Show full text]