When Buddhism spread from Siddhartha Gautama’s birthplace in today’s Nepal to many parts of Asia, texts were often translated into local languages to make the teachings of the Buddha accessible to different peoples. Was Buddhist art and imagery also “translated” into local artistic styles? Yes. As the examples of some different styles below show, changes in how the Buddha was portrayed tell us fascinating stories about different artistic styles, local cultures, and even the evolution of Buddhist beliefs.
Beyond the material differences (schist, sandstone, granite, copper, and wood), these five statues from South, Southeast, and East Asia exhibit stylistic differences and cross-cultural, even cross-religious, byproducts. Images of Siddhartha develop
