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Buddhist art originated in the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Gautam Buddha. Buddhist schools of art were religious in form. They were Indian in character but one can see signs of foreign influence too.
Buddhist schools of art include: the Mauryan School of Art, the Sunga School of Art, the Mathura or kushana School of Art and the Gandhara School of art.
Buddhist art achieved its glory during the Mauryan period, especially during the reign of King Ashoka who said to have erected 84,000 stupas relating to the life of Buddha. The Mauryans were famous for their artistic shaped pillars, railings, capitals, animal as well as human forms.
The huge monolithic pillars of Ashoka are the outstanding specimens of the Mauryan art. They are found throughout the empire of Ashoka.
Each pillar has three parts – the prop, the shaft and the capital. The prop is the base, buried in the ground. The shaft or the main body is made of one piece of stone which is chiselled and polished. The capital, the head of the pillar, has animal figures. (181字)
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