University of California
The Bancroft Library: Oroville Chinese Temple
Digitized collection of artifacts from a Chinese temple built in 1863 and serving a populace of 10,000.
Other
Buddhist Artifacts the Support of Spiritual Realization
A site by Tulku Thondup explaining the significance of Buddhist art in Tibet. This is an excerpt from a talk given at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1990. The basis is how the Buddhist devotees in Tibet use religious objects as tools...
PBS
Pbs: Nova: Lost Treasures of Tibet: Deciphering Buddha Imagery
Interactive presentation explains the many ways that the Buddha is represented in art. Discusses the symbolic nature of his appearance as well as the Buddha's characteristic hand gestures, or mudras.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Seated Amitabha Buddha (Amida Nyorai)
This sculpture shows Amitabha, identified as the Buddha of the Western Paradise. Read a brief history of Amitabha and the techniques used to make this sculpture.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Bodhisattva Maitreya
This statue depicts the bodhisattva Maitreya. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who postpone their own salvation in order to help all sentient beings. View a picture of this statue and read a description in this essay.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Hinduism and the Practice of Faith
Religion pervades many aspects of Hindu life and assumes many forms. Read about Hindu practices in this short essay and view a piece of artwork depicting a woman worshipping at an outdoor shrine.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: A Guardian King
This fierce-looking king is a symbolic protector of the Buddha's sacred law and also a fighter of evil spirits. His right foot is raised to stamp upon the head of a demon (now missing). His armor consists of tunic, trousers, chest and...
Other
Knowledge of China: Universal Guide for Chinese Studies
A very comprehensive website about China, including history (from ancient to modern), arts (architecture, handicraft, living etc.), philosophy (daoism, confucianism, buddhism etc) and literature.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Historical Buddha
Among the founders of the world's major religions, the Buddha was the only teacher who did not claim to be other than an ordinary human being. Read about his life in this article.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: Buddhism: Representation of the Buddha, Standing
Representation of the Buddha, standing.
Curated OER
Heilbrunn Zen Buddhism: Sculpture of a Zen Priest
Portrait of a Zen master, Japanese, fourteenth-fifteenth century.
Curated OER
Heilbrunn Zen Buddhism: Hanging Scroll of Orchids and Rocks
Ink drawing of orchids and rocks, hanging scroll,
University of California
Ucla: Manas: About India
This is a robust site from UCLA with lots of information about Indian cultures, religions, social life and organization, history and politics. Don't expect a zillion pictures, but an in-depth look at the cultures and history.
Other
The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara
An article about Avalokitesvara discussing his place in the Buddhist pantheon. Includes art depicting Avalokitesvara.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Seated Amitabha Buddha (Amida Nyorai)
Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of a historical figure known as the Buddha Shakyamuni, who lived about 2,500 years ago. This sculpture shows Amitabha, identified as the Buddha of the Western Paradise. Amitabha is shown...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Development of the Buddha Image
There is significant debate concerning the development of the Buddha image--where it first occurred, why, and when. Broadly speaking, the image of the Buddha emerged during the first few centuries C.E. in two major centers of Indian art...
Other
Buddha Images
An commercial online gallery of Buddha images. The photos are good but no commentary is provided, only the names and locations.
PBS
Pbs: The Story of India: Kushan Empire
PBS explores the world of India with an in-depth look into the Kushan Empire. Identifies the origins of the empire, the location of the empire, and the connection to the Silk Road. Describes the importance of art and literature to the...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Railing Pillar With Female Figure Beneath a Tree
This stone sculpture depicts a female figure holding on to the branches of a tree. She stands in what is known as a triple bend position. Part of her arms and one leg have broken off. She has a pleasant expression on her face. She wears...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Bodhisattva Maitreya
This statue depicts the bodhisattva Maitreya. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who postpone their own salvation in order to help all sentient beings. The bodhisattva is an ideal type, not a depiction of an historical person like the...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Conception of the Buddha to Be in Queen Maya's Dream
This relief scene from around 100 to 300 depicts the dream of Maya, the mother of the historical Buddha. Queen Maya is asleep in her palace under a full moon. An attendant stands guard outside. In her dream, a white elephant enters her...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Goddess of White Umbrella: Buddhist Deity Ushnisha Sitatapatra
The Goddess of the White Umbrella (the Buddhist deity Ushnisha-sitatapatra) is one of many powerful female deities. She manifests her power with her thousand heads, arms, and legs. She has eyes on the palms of each of her hands and soles...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
The main image in this painting is Avalokiteshvara (1), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. He is the principle patron deity of Tibet. He sits on a lotus throne upon a lunar disc. This god takes many forms, such as the Dalai Lamas of Tibet,...