Bangasayusang-korean art From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Bangasayusang

Hangul: 반가사유상 Hanja: 半跏思惟像 Revised Romanization: Ban-gasayusang McCune-Reischauer: Pan'gasayusang National Treasure of Korea No. 83, the Bangasayusang, or Geumdong Mireuk Bosal Bangasayusang (literally Gilt-Bronze Maitreya Bodhisattva Half-sitting Thinking Statue), is a beautiful gilt-bronze statute of Maitreya, the future Buddha, in a semi-seated contemplative pose. It is commonly referred to as the Contemplative Bodhisattva or Gilt-Bronze Seated Maitreya in English.

The Bangasayusang is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest Buddhist sculptures ever produced and is a masterpiece of Korean art. It is now housed at the National Museum of Korea and is one of the most popular exhibits there.

The statute is believed to have been made in the early 7th century and was probably produced by the Baekje although some believe that this was a Silla piece. It is 93.5 centimeters tall or approximately 3 feet and one inch in height. It is made of bronze, and was at one point plated in gold.

The Bangasayusang is seated on a round pedestal and posed with its right leg of the crossed over its left knee while the figure's right hand is touching its cheek and the left hand rests on the crossed leg. This contemplative pose was a popular subject of Buddhist art and the archetype spread from India to China and Korea and then to Japan. Other common similarities of the Maitreya statues of this style is the use of drapery on the seat on which the figure sits. Chinese depictions of the drapery that the Maitreya sits on are highly stylized, stiff, and formalized. However, the artists' depiction of the drapery on the Bangasayusang is flowing and realistic which gives the statue an illusion of animation. The slender, almost lithe body of the figure suggests Baekje styles at work. However, the bridgeline and sharp nose of the figure suggests a Silla provenance. The figure is perfectly proportional and the sensuality of the draping both suggests that the sculptor based this work on a real model. Other figures of the Maitreya-type are often distorted or stylized to fit the artistic tradition the sculptor was working from. In this case, the realism of the figure suggests that the sculptor was from the Baekje Kingdom because many Baekje figures are proportional and realistic. The harmony between the lower half and upper half of the statue is example of the attention to detail and realistic proportionality. The figure has a tri-fold crown on its head which is very simple, unlike other works of this genre which have highly elaborate headdresses. The halo of the figure has long since been lost although a part of the halo remains attached to the figure. The Bangasayusang is also bare-chested which adds to the simplicity of the figure. The figure gives a sense of calm meditation but still conveys a sense of moving dynamism because of its posture and the artistic styling of the bronze.

The Miroku bosatsu at the Koryu-ji Temple of Kyoto, Japanese National Treasure No. 1, is the twin of the Bangasayusang and is almost certainly of Korean origin. [1] The Miroku is carved from red pine and may be the statue the Nihon Shoki mentions that a King of Silla sent to the Yamato court. The statues both share the elegant contemplative pose, highly proportional figures, realistic draperies, slim bodies, and plain tri-fold crowns.

The Bangasayusang is often compared to The Thinker because of its contemplative pose.

National Treasure No.83, although priceless, is insured for an estimated 50 billion won and is the most expensive national treasure of Korea. [2]

((haniwa-japanese art)) The Haniwa (埴輪) are funerary figures (literally, "clay rings"), found in thousands of kofun era tombs (3rd-6th century CE) scattered throughout Japan.

A Haniwa figurine (3-5th century AD)During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic rulers developed. Its horse-riding warriors wore iron armor, carried swords and other weapons, and used advanced military methods like those of Northeast Asia. Many of them are represented in Haniwa figurines for funerary purposes.

The most important of the haniwa were found in southern Honshu--especially the Kinai region around Nara--and northern Kyushu. Haniwa grave offerings were made in numerous forms, such as horses, chickens, birds, fans, fish, houses, weapons, shields, sunshades, pillows, and male and female humans. Besides decorative and spiritual reasons of protecting the emperor in his after life, these figures also served as retaining wall for the burial mount.

[edit] Haniwa in popular culture In the CG-animated series Gregory Horror Show, a recurrent group of characters call themselves the Haniwa Salary-Man, and take the form of cubic little men of clay, that roam hopelessly in the world of business, salaries and promotions, not caring about their personal and spiritual lives. As the traditional Haniwa, they are empty and fragile.

In Kotetsu Jeeg, the initial monsters of the week were known as "Haniwa Genjin."

In the anime, Amaenaideyo!! Katsu!!, characters join a "Haniwa Research Club" and attempt to excavate Haniwa.

In the anime Eureka Seven, the main character, Renton, sees haniwa representations of himself and his classmates during a dream.

Haniwa have appeared in various contemportary video games. In the game Animal Crossing, the player can dig up various haniwa (referred to as "gyroids" in the English versions of the game). There is also a treasure in the English version Pikmin 2 that is called a "Gyroid Statue". In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, there are Haniwa-like figures in various puzzles. In Goemon's Great Adventure, the haniwa are the most common enemies in the game with many variations. In SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu, Final Fantasy Legend 2 in the US, Haniwa are an extremely rare enemy in the last dungeon, that the most powerful weapon in the game, the Seven Sword, can be attained from. In Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, a potter featured in one of the stages creates haniwa when a checkpoint is failed