Thread by @EngagedPureLand

Presenting “Visions of the Bodhi Tree in America.” A brief visual meditation on representation of the #Buddha's enlightenment, for #Vesak 2021.

Olga Kopetzky, “The Gospel of the Buddha,” 1915. The Czech artist was commissioned by German-American author Paul Carus for his famous book. Here the Buddha appears European, while the overall style is especially influenced by Persian and Indian Muslim art.

Chiji Hideya, “Los Angeles Honpa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple hondo,” 1971. The Japanese artist was commissioned when the Jodo Shinshu temple moved to a new building. Here we have a modernized Japanese buddha, and the art is also a modern version of classic Japanese Buddhist style.

John Fillion, “Universal Buddha,” 1980s. The Canadian artist was commissioned by the Rochester Zen Center. The sculpture is abstract and non-racialized in order to depict a generic buddha whom anyone could see themselves in. The garden setting has American and Japanese influences

Thomas Matsuda, “Bodhi Tree and Animals,” 1990s. The Sansei artist was trained in the USA and Japan. This piece combines ancient Indian aniconic Buddhist art (depicting the Buddha as a tree; the flanking lions) with Japanese Buddhist parinirvana motifs (the gathering of animals).

Seiji Ige, “Earth As My Witness,” 2020. The Okinawan/Japanese-American artist was commissioned by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Here the Buddha is a young Black woman, while Mara's army are white forces of American hate and militarism. The art is contemporary.

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