[Buddha-l] Re: More Buddhist angels?

[dhammanando at csloxinfo.com]

Dear Joanna,

> Well well, check this link:
> http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/bagan/anandaindex.htm

> the gandharva figures on either side of the central figure
> andonebelow it are winged. I can't make out clearly the
> others...... From the Shwe-Kyaung-pyi monastery--remainder
> of King Mindon's palaces built in mid 19th c, therefore one
> infers that the winged angel image types were inspired by
> western art through contact of the British and their
> cultural baggage.

I think that's unlikely. Unlike 19th century Siamese
princes, with their fondness for dressing up as Russian
cavalry officers etc., the Burmese of that period were not
much into aping foreign things at all.

One would really need to know what sort of creatures the
sculptures represent. If -- as I suspect -- they are
kinnaras or kinnariis (half-bird, half-human) then there
would be nothing innovative in King Mindon's artists
depicting them with wings.

Some other Burmese examples:

13th century
http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2124/images/20041203000106506.jpg

the same in more detail:
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/burmese/cooler/Chapter_3/Part4/Images/ux75.JPG

19th century
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/burmese/cooler/Chapter_3/Part4/Images/BC87.1.1.jpg

Best wishes,

Dhammanando