The Image (Statue) of Christ and Buddha in 3-5th C.

ABSTRACT

This is to find common images shared between Christ and Buddha by comparing Gandhāra Buddhist statues that appeared in the 3-5th centuries and early Christ statues. It was not until Gothic in the 11th century that Christ statues as exquisite as to compete with Gandhāra statues of the 3-5th centuries came into light. But it cannot be asserted that Christian art ran more than 700 years behind Buddhist art by such a simple comparison of expression techniques. It is more likely that the goals they longed to achieve by art were different. Gupta Buddhism had its goal at guiding people to the absolute stage, nirvana, through classical beauty of art and helping them transcend the limitations of transient present with more ease. While Buddhist statues of the 3-5th centuries wore smiling expressions, Christ statues of the same period were presented in various ways as his past public activities, most of which are nevertheless images of agony and atonement. The form of both Buddhist and Christian statues originate in Greek Apollonian statue, sharing the same image as a philosopher and a teacher. The religious organizations ought to make common efforts in establishing an educational curriculum of religion and culture for children and juveniles to learn diversity and differences between religions of the world, to respect others beliefs and to healthily settle their own view regarding religion.