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R T A N D C U L T U R E
·· S T U P A S & P A G O D A S
Recent |
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| ANCIENT | RECENT | MODERN | ||
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My classification of what 'recent' stupas are is relatively arbitrary - very roughly including those built after the initial expansion of Buddhism (around 600 - 800 CE; just before the Muslim invasions into northern India). The basic elements of the stupa tradition had been well established by this time and, over the later centuries, it has been a matter of refining various aspects of these - often according to specific national or cultural tastes or the development of philosophical symbolism. Technology has also played a great part in stylistic evolution with improvements in both material usage with new engineering techniques and transport systems. This generally meant that stupas could be built much taller and more slender with more delicate detailing as well as being positioned on sites to which delivering materials was previously not possible. There are four links below - dividing stupas roughly
into national groupings. The aim here being not so much to provide
more historical or technical information (see the book
for that) but merely to try and present the particular style that
has evolved in that country. It is difficult to generalise as each
country will have local variables. |
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Click the images below for stupa
pictures of that country.
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