DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0070
6
HANDBOOK OF ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
CHAPTER II.
BUDDITIST ARCHITECTURE.
CON'TENTS.
Division of subject — Topes, Sanchi — Temples, Karli — Monasteries, Ajunta —
Ornamentation of caves.
CHRONOLOGICAL MEMORANDA.
DATES.
Birth of Gautama Buddha . ... b.c. 623
Detith of Gautama Buddha, and first con-
vocation held. 543
Chandragup ta, contemporary of Alextmder 325
Asoka: third convocation held. Buddh-
ism made the religion of the state.
Lats erected. Earliest monuments and
iuscriptions in India. 250
Dasaratha, his grandson. Earliest caves
in Behar . about200
DATES.
Cuttack caves, from 200 b.c. to about Christian era.
Topes at Bilsah . 2nd ceut. b.c. to 2nd or 3rd a.d.
Vicramaditya buildings at Oujein . . . b.c. 56
Salivahana cave at Karli.a.d. 79
Topes at Manikyala 1st cent. b.o. to 3rd or 4th a.d.
Topes in Afghanistan . 1st cent. a.d. to 5th or 6th.
Caves at Ajunta 1st cent. a.d. to 10th or 11th a.d.
Caves at Ellora . 5th cent. a.d. to 8th or 9th a.d.
Topes at Samath .... 6th to 9th cent. a.d.
The examples wliich reruain of BiiddDist arclritectnre Rave liitlierto
been imperfectly examined, and are generalty little known. It is
tberefore by no means easy to classify tbem so as to include all, and at
tbe same time render tbe divisions clear and intelligible. Tlie follow-
ing arrangement, it is believed, will represent onr present knowledge
of tbe snbject witb tolerable exactness.
1. Topes.—Under tbis name are inclnded tbe most important class
of buildings. Tbey consist of detacbed pillars, towers, and tumuli, all
of a sacred or monumental cbaracter. Tbe word is a corrnption of tbe
Sanscrit sthupa, meaning a mound, beap, or cairn.
2. Temples.—Known as Chaitya balls, or caves.
3. Monasteries.— Viharas, being tbe residences of tbe priests.
Topes.
Tliis class includes edifices differing from one anotber principally
in tlre pnrposes for wliicli tbey were erected. Tlie oldest and simplest
topes were single pillars (sthambas), eitber carved out of one-stone or
regularly built; tbe former being distinguisbed as Lats. Tbe oldest
monuments liitlierto discovered in India are a group of tbese monolitbs
set up by Asoka in tlie middle of tbe tliird century b.c. Tbey were all
alike in form, and all bore tlie same inscription, being four sliort edicts
containing tbe creed and principa] doctrines of Buddhism, which be
HANDBOOK OF ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
CHAPTER II.
BUDDITIST ARCHITECTURE.
CON'TENTS.
Division of subject — Topes, Sanchi — Temples, Karli — Monasteries, Ajunta —
Ornamentation of caves.
CHRONOLOGICAL MEMORANDA.
DATES.
Birth of Gautama Buddha . ... b.c. 623
Detith of Gautama Buddha, and first con-
vocation held. 543
Chandragup ta, contemporary of Alextmder 325
Asoka: third convocation held. Buddh-
ism made the religion of the state.
Lats erected. Earliest monuments and
iuscriptions in India. 250
Dasaratha, his grandson. Earliest caves
in Behar . about200
DATES.
Cuttack caves, from 200 b.c. to about Christian era.
Topes at Bilsah . 2nd ceut. b.c. to 2nd or 3rd a.d.
Vicramaditya buildings at Oujein . . . b.c. 56
Salivahana cave at Karli.a.d. 79
Topes at Manikyala 1st cent. b.o. to 3rd or 4th a.d.
Topes in Afghanistan . 1st cent. a.d. to 5th or 6th.
Caves at Ajunta 1st cent. a.d. to 10th or 11th a.d.
Caves at Ellora . 5th cent. a.d. to 8th or 9th a.d.
Topes at Samath .... 6th to 9th cent. a.d.
The examples wliich reruain of BiiddDist arclritectnre Rave liitlierto
been imperfectly examined, and are generalty little known. It is
tberefore by no means easy to classify tbem so as to include all, and at
tbe same time render tbe divisions clear and intelligible. Tlie follow-
ing arrangement, it is believed, will represent onr present knowledge
of tbe snbject witb tolerable exactness.
1. Topes.—Under tbis name are inclnded tbe most important class
of buildings. Tbey consist of detacbed pillars, towers, and tumuli, all
of a sacred or monumental cbaracter. Tbe word is a corrnption of tbe
Sanscrit sthupa, meaning a mound, beap, or cairn.
2. Temples.—Known as Chaitya balls, or caves.
3. Monasteries.— Viharas, being tbe residences of tbe priests.
Topes.
Tliis class includes edifices differing from one anotber principally
in tlre pnrposes for wliicli tbey were erected. Tlie oldest and simplest
topes were single pillars (sthambas), eitber carved out of one-stone or
regularly built; tbe former being distinguisbed as Lats. Tbe oldest
monuments liitlierto discovered in India are a group of tbese monolitbs
set up by Asoka in tlie middle of tbe tliird century b.c. Tbey were all
alike in form, and all bore tlie same inscription, being four sliort edicts
containing tbe creed and principa] doctrines of Buddhism, which be