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The contribution of Buddhism to the World of Art ...
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Buddhism in India together with its art and architecture reached its zenith during the Gupta dynasty, which was established in northern India in 320 A.D. It was to last into the seventh century. The bestknown examples of Buddhist Art are from this period and were to form the standard of comparison for all subsequent Buddhist art and architecture both in India and in the rest of the Asian countries where it spread, took root and flourished. The Gupta period also saw the advent of Buddhism's decline in India. It slowly waned for three reasons. First was the rise of Mahāyāna Buddhism in India, which was to bring Buddhism closer to Hinduism. The second reason was that Hinduism enjoyed the support of Kings and underwent a revival. This was so successful that in time it was to absorb the new strongly Mahāyāna influenced Buddhism. The third reason for Buddhism's decline was the various Moslem invasions, the last of which was waged in the seventh century A.D. and was directly responsible for Buddhism's slow decline and fall. However, at this time as we shall see Buddhism spread out of India to Nepal, later on to Sri Lanka and then eastwards to South East Asia and survived.
In short, Buddhism and its art and architecture were to spread geographically outward from India in two directions. One was to the northwest into Afghanistan, Iran and then along the Silk Road to Central Asia and then further east to China, Korea and Japan. This development took place not only because of the activity of Buddhist Missionaries, but also because of the work of those Indian traders and the migration of those Indian emigrants who settled in Central Asia. These people carried both Hinduism, and Buddhism and much of Indian culture with them wherever they went. This is obvious when we look at the wealth of Indian and Buddhist Art, which was created there and can still be seen, today. However, in China, Korea and Japan, Buddhism did not supplant the existing cultures but was totally integrated into them.
At the end of India's Gupta period Buddhism was taken to Nepal, Sri Lanka and to the South East Asian Mainland. This outward
