Key Terms in Asian Art History: Concepts and Definitions

Posted on May 31, 2025 in Religion

ART 251 – Asian Art History, Prof. F. H. Capistrano-Baker

Key Terms in Asian Art History

Art History: Study of the history of art, and the cultures and time periods that produced specific works.
Formal Analysis: Methodical study of the form and physical aspects of a work.
Relief Sculpture: Two-dimensional sculpture, meant to be viewed from the front only (high relief vs. low relief); the back is left rough.
Sculpture in the Round: Three-dimensional sculpture meant to be viewed by walking around it; all sides are finished.
Iconography: The study of images and their meanings.
Attributes: Characteristics that identify a person or deity (e.g., garments, adornments, accompanying objects).
Conventionalized: A design whose rendering has become standardized.
Patron: A person or group who commissions or pays for the artwork.
Producer: The artist or artisan who creates the artwork.
User: Persons or groups who use the artwork.

Hindu Denominations: Shaivite, Vaishnavite, Shakta.
Brahma: The creator deity.
Vishnu: The protector deity (Chakra = war discus; Conch Shell = war trumpet).
Shiva: The destroyer deity.
Shiva Nataraja: Dancing Shiva.
Shakti/Devi: The female principle, often personified as Parvati (Shiva’s wife).
Durga: Female warrior deity, slayer of Demon Mahesha.
Durga Puja: A 10-day commemoration of the goddess Durga.
Kali: “The Dark One,” goddess of time, and destructive alter ego of Durga.

Dharma: Ethical living.
Moksha: Spiritual salvation.
Artha: Wealth.
Kama: Human love.
Karma: The law of cause and effect.
Samsara: The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (reincarnation).
Nirvana: Eternal bliss after the cessation of reincarnation, signifying oneness with the universe.

Nagara: Northern-style Hindu temple, characterized by a curved shikhara and erotic imagery.
Dravida: Southern-style Hindu temple, characterized by a rectilinear tower.
Shikhara: A tower that symbolizes the sacred mountain.
Axis Mundi: The world axis, connecting the human and spiritual realms.
Gopura: An elaborate gateway to a Hindu temple, typically found at the four cardinal directions.
Aedicule: A basic architectural element.
Mithuna: A loving couple, often depicted in temple art.
Apsaras: Celestial female beings.
Darshan: “Seeing” or making eye contact with a sacred sculpture to receive blessings.
Fractal: A self-similar, repeating pattern (often seen in temple architecture).

Ganges River: A sacred river in India.
Chola Dynasty: An important dynasty in South India, circa 9th-13th century CE.

Buddha: “The Enlightened One.”
Bodhi Tree: Also called a Pipal tree, a sacred fig tree under which the Buddha achieved Enlightenment.
Prince Siddhartha Gautama: Of the Shakya tribe, also known as Gautama Buddha or Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha).
Bodhisattva: A holy being who postpones Buddhahood to help others attain Enlightenment.
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara / Padmapani: The Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Bodhisattva Maitreya: The Buddha of the Future, who will become Buddha Maitreya.
Chakra: A wheel.
Dharma Chakra: “Wheel of the Law,” symbolizing ethical living.
Four Noble Truths: The fundamental principles of Buddhist doctrine.
Eightfold Path / Middle Way: The path to liberation in Buddhism.
Circumambulate: To walk around a stupa or temple in a mindful manner, often as a ritual.
Ascetic / Asceticism: One who renounces all worldly comforts.

Mauryan Empire: The first Indian Empire.
Emperor Ashoka: The first emperor to convert to Buddhism.
Ajanta Caves: A complex of ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves in India.
Gandhara: A historical region in present-day Pakistan, known as a crossroads of Indian and Mediterranean cultures.

Stupa: A mound-like architectural structure containing the Buddha’s relics.
Torana: A gateway to a Buddhist stupa, typically a post-and-lintel structure.
Yakshi: A female fertility symbol.
Chaitya: A Buddhist cave shrine or assembly hall.
Halo: A circle of light surrounding the head, symbolizing divinity.
Mandorla / Nimbus: An almond-shaped aureole of light framing the entire body.
Physiognomy: The physical features and body proportions of a human figure.
Mudra: A symbolic hand gesture.
Asana: A leg position or posture, often used in meditation.
Tribhanga: A triple-bend pose, similar to the Italian contrapposto.
Ushnisha: A bun-like protuberance above the fontanel, symbolizing Enlightenment.
Urna: A dot on the forehead, often depicted as a tuft of hair.
Snail Curls: The distinctive hairstyle of the Buddha.
Distended Earlobe: Elongated earlobes resulting from wearing heavy ear ornaments.
Lotus Throne: A throne shaped like a lotus flower, symbolizing purity.
Parasol: An umbrella symbolizing the presence or royalty of the Buddha.