Free Religion Research Essay Sample

1. Introduction

The book pulse of wisdom introduces the philosophy of Asia as found India, china and Japan. Its thematic address talks about questions most significant in oriental metaphysics, ontology, Epistemology, not forgetting ethics and a successful knitting and integrations of historical and regional approaches. The book helps readers develop a strong grasp of the major teaching and major figures and schools in oriental thought.IT further enables a reader to gain a deep understanding of the ways of thinking of people whom we will continually work together very closely in our worldwide community.

India and china are home to biggest civilizations in southern Asia and the eastern Asia. Their rulers were self-proclaimed universal monarchs; they thereby matched the pretensions of the roman emperors within the west. The only obstacles to their historical priority were the setbacks that faced India, when the Indus valley civilization fall due to disputed reasons, and China began late as compared to Middle Eastern civilizations. 

2. Religion

When India recovered, it was a contemporary of Greece, and not Sumeria, with a series of parallel cultural developments, such as philosophy. Aggressively, China came to a philosophical stage of development in the same time, the “axial age,” 800 – 400BC. Afterwards, when the west, India, and China had contact with one another, India first wielded much influence on china, due to the introduction of Buddhism faith.

Indian influence on the west, though likely  by Pyrrho’s skepticism, and possibly clear in Christian saints’ halos (gotten from Buddhist iconography), did not extend to something substantial—unless the world’s denial of Christianity was a sure thing., as according to Schopenhauer thinking, to Indian influence.

It was then that china made Buddhism an own religion, India later embraced the advent of Islam. The element of Islam introduced strong cultural and then political differences into the small continent. The Marxism application from the communist government that clinched power in 1949 was a unit development compared as disruptive in China.

While China has now become economically stable, envisioned and has outshone India, it is the custodian to   political dictatorship of communism.  India as a democracy in history has had its growth deterred by socialist anticipations and regulations, with little economic liberalization by the 1990’s.

The idea of having three kingdoms, Sangoku, meaning, a conceit of Japan, placed peripheral islands on equal grounds with the wonderful centers of civilization, India and China. There would not have been even a single justification for this until Koreans and Vietnamese certainly dispute the 20th century, except in subjective Judgments on creativity of Japan’s culture, which had to be. However, after a process of personal transformation started by American intervention, Japan rose to the position of a massive authority by conquering Russia in the year 1905.

The empire, spent forty years that followed throwing its weight here and there, taking over Korea and attacking China, finally taking on the United States in a dangerous bid for hegemony in the years 1941 to 1945. Humiliating defeat  lowered Japan to a small extent, though by the 1980’s the Japanese state improved greatly and recorded the most high per capita income in the world, with wealth and an economic potential that frightened many even in the united states.

3. Sculptures for worship in India and China

On religion, the Sacred Angkor borders India and china, Southeast of Asia the mother of a series of cultures, which constitute the greatest of the world’s civilizations. Among the kingdoms of India that mushroomed in Southeast Asia before the Common Era. The great Khmer civilization was situated in modern day Cambodia. The Indians of Southeast Asia have similar advent.

The ethnic interconnectedness between the Austro-Asiatic races in India, with those of the land of Gold (Suvarnabhumi) between the two religions date back to the most peaceful interior.

A number of countries in Southeast Asia integrated to the cultural and religious influence of India. Old Indians knew this particular religion as Suvarnbhumi. The region referred to as Suvarndvipa meant the island of gold. Vedic Indians charted Java Yawadvip, thousands of years gone since Yawadvip mentioned in the greatest epic of India (the Ramayana). The Ramayana discloses a bit of knowledge of the eastern Regions and past the seas: An example may be Surgiva sent his men to yavadvipa to search sita.

Southeast of Asia was referred to as farther India, by the British the French and Indian scholars. It was also referred to as the hindunized or indianized countries. India wielded much influence of the whole area according to scholars who wrote in 1861 that the countries situated beyond the Ganges hardly required any slightest attention of history

The many states situated in the region are not therefore referred to as indianized kingdoms Attacks nor proselytism was by any means no the main reason for indianization which occurred in the Indian archipelago. World trade was very crucial. Angkor Wat indeed required taking up the biggest responsibility simply because of its exceptional architectural milestones but also when taking to consideration its agricultural and ecological mischief sort out there.

Angkor Wat mostly lauded as the most wonderful architectural designs, built in the world. The unique acoustics plus magnificent storey towers accentuates this. Angkor Wat previously called Vrah Vishnulok-the holy residence of lord Vishnu, which is the largest temple in the universe. King Sryaman built this abode the second in the 12th century. The capital Nagara, developed by the tongue of Cambodia, was called Nokor then and later to Angkor.

The term Angkor created from the Sanskrit word Nagara, which when interpreted means holy city whereas Vatika is the word for the temple. The temple city is a majestic Monument, the world’s largest stone construction and the masterpiece of architectural designs. The Khmers stuck to the Indian faith that temples built while adhering to a given mathematical system for it to function in peace with the world Intervals between given architectural elements of the temple portray numbers related to the cosmology and mythology. The small size of the place leaves those visiting in awe and sophisticated designs that show the skills of gone priest architects. Every inch of the construction carved with closely related works of art to create that wonderful look.

The carvings of big people of India that were produced in Cambodia during the period starting 6^th-8^th centuries AD are masterpieces maturely styled  for purposes of beauty at any place in India according to Philip Rawson. The scaling of Angkor Wat enabled the Khmer’s express fully their religious symbolism, which is a Hindu microcosm in the world.

It has repeatedly been said that Angkor was discovered by whites, but in reality that is manifest nonsense and simply a reflection of a Eurocentric motive..The Khmer did not forget the presence of their monuments. Henri Mouhot a French naturalist darted his eyes on a complex in the city of Angkor Wat on his Zoological expedition.  He got impressed with the remains  concealed in the jungle and said though writing that one of those temples-a rival to Solomon’s, and erected through the  efforts of old Michael Angelo-might  have  taken its place alongside their most beautiful houses-Grander than all left wuuth them by the Greece. He continued, saying that it made travelers re-energized and brimming with much delight, such as should be learnt on finding a n oasis in the desert.

The ancient civilization’s grandeur is honestly surprising. Covering a portion of a square single mile, Angkor Wat is one of the largest built temples in the world. The temple is strictly reserved to the lord Vishnu from him the king that the king was reincarnated .The pyramid that has three layers, Angkor Wat is composed of five different towers and it is 64 meters high. On the outside wall, eight panels showing scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The relics of former grandeur hold mute testimonial tone of the least recognized yet most praised chapters in humankind history an example being classical culture of larger India, unlike other states, Cambodia did not lessen the influence of India on the local’s culture. On the opposite, the people who are nationalities of India to fully acknowledge it.A number of people have tried to explain the ties between Cambodia and India. Among those who have raised their voices is Norodom Sihanouk a prince of Cambodia who said that, when the reflected on the two thousand year old ties with India, there couldn’t be a doubt that it wasn’t a hyperbole.

Norodom Sihanouk recalls that about a total of 2000 years have passed from the time navigators followed by the Indian merchants and finally the Brahmins brought to their forefathers their graven images or gods, their skills and lastly their allegation. He further briefs that India was for them while Greece was of Latin occident.

4. Sculptures for worship in Japan

Japan is home to two major religions that are Shinto and Buddhism. Religion in Japan for hundreds of years has not had good numbers of believers. Shinto and Buddhism complemented each other greatly. Japanese citizens are Shinto, Buddhist or both. Religion is not so significant in the daily life of the Japanese people. The middle class people only follow the religions services on ceremonies like birth, and other celebrations. During this functions they visit temples or shrines on the New Year and take part in festivals like Matsuri, most of them are of a religious origin.

Religion in Japan is dependent on sculptures since the gods of Buddha and Shinto, got created artificially. The sculpture in Japan began from works of clay. Japanese sculpture got influenced by Silk Road culture during the fifth century and afterwards much influence from Chinese sculpture afterwards. The western world equally descended its influence on the Japanese sculpture starting the Meji era .The sculptures first, sold well in local shops that served as sculpting and painting sites. Most of the sculptures in Japan served in worshipping (craven images that comprised Shinto and Buddhism).

Sculpture in all the arts  was centered around Buddhism .In the making of images metals were used  .Bronze was the most used, followed by wood that was painted using shiny colors  paints. Buddhism gradually lost popularity due to the loss of nobility by Buddhist temples. Primitive arts are experiencing a wide ascendancy and are warming up to become a production company of artistry.

The archipelago of Japan had remained a mystery since no scholar since time immemorial has ever determined when humanity moved over to the archipelago of Japan. Those who first lived in Japan who transitioned the crude art of Japan that was in a rough covering into a strange one called dogu. Some of the sculptures were of great importance when performing fertility rites and some in the banishing of demons from plaguing individuals or the performance of other primitive rites.

The figures referred to as dogu are appealing to the eyes in their looking and unique symbolism. The figures are highly furnished with lines and spirals decorating the figures to eve make them very special. Records like those of Nihon Shoki (an old Japanese history) show that the emperor ordered during the time of the empress’ death by hate, subjects and other assistants of the bereaved due to the demise of their master. He later ordered that figures made of clay be molded and put around the burial mound, and this was to replace human being sacrifices. Scholars who argue that clay pipes were the first forms of the haniwa have discredited this explanation about the haniwa.

The haniwas later developed to assume various shapes. Some of them took the shape of houses that of animals tamed in homes, finishing with that of human beings. Haniwas arranged around the mound, proved scholars right in their theory to discredit that of the emperor. The haniwa figures have undoubtedly came to assume some sort of religious symbolism, different from their initial practical purpose as shareholders.

The Japanese resurfacing from the period of primitive arts; Started majorly by the launching of Buddhism, in the mainland of the continent of Asia. In unison with the new religion, artists who were skillfully rich and artisans from China arrived in Japan to construct temples and sculptured idols, and to arm the Japanese artists with techniques. Earliest examples of Buddhist art summed up and accumulated at the seventh century Horyuji temple in Nara.

Nara and its entire space contain the largest majority of the nation’s valuables of the early period of art in Buddhism history as the Asoka period. The sculpture of this time displays many of the following sculpture and their influence in regional art. Sculptures are the pumping heart of Japan. However, Religion is not prevalent in Japan. Its weight is always felt since there is no religion that worships a different God instead of Shinto and Buddha.

5. Conclusion

The issues addressed in the book the pulse of wisdom concerning religions and sculptures cutting across India, china and Japan. The book unveils different secrets that explain the ways in which the nationalities pay tribute to their lords. Secondly, the book goes on to explain how and where the art of sculpturing commenced and then how it spread to other countries in the Asian countries. The book details that skills of artisans began somewhere in China and then was shared to those who were in the sculpting industry.

The book has highlighted the ties shared between and among the three countries. Reading the book word by word it is very interesting to learn about the very strange gods and the temples in which they resided. The book the pulse of wisdom is rich in the presentation of history in the ancient times and it is indeed a masterpiece.     

 

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