![]() Since the 17th century, artists have created vertical and horizontal depictions of the six realms of existence. The general design does not need to be limited to just the traditional wheel, however. The Ajanta wheel had more sections-most likely not fewer than eight. The Wheel of Life paintings of today generally have four, five, or six sections. What is consistent from the time of the Ajanta depiction up to the present is the circle (wheel) divided into pie shaped sections (spokes) and meeting at a central smaller circle (hub). The actual origins and design are believed to have been taught by Shakyamuni Buddha himself it is more likely, however, that the concept of the visual form of the Wheel of Life arises from descriptions in the Buddhist Abhidharma literature. The earliest known Wheel of Life depiction is painted on a wall in the Ajanta Cave complex in India. It is also painted as a portable scroll composition and found in private shrines and homes. Anyone who has travelled to Asia, the Himalayas, or other Tibetan cultural areas will know that the Wheel of Life is commonly seen as a mural on the outside entrance wall of almost every monastery or village temple. The Wheel of Life ( bhavachakra) is one of the most recognized images in Himalayan art, perhaps second only to the Buddha. This week Jeff tells us about the Wheel of Life. In this “Himalayan Buddhist Art 101” series, Jeff is making sense of this rich artistic tradition by presenting weekly images from the Himalayan Art Resources archives and explaining their roles in the Buddhist tradition. Not to worry- Himalayan art scholar Jeff Watt is here to help. But for the casual observer it can be difficult to make sense of the complex iconography. Buddhist practice and Buddhist art have been inseparable in the Himalayas ever since Buddhism arrived to the region in the eighth century.
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