DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0230
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BOOK IL
JAIN A ARCHITECTURE.
CHAPTER L
introductory.
Thkkk are few of the problems connected with this branch of our
subject so obscure and so puzzling as those connected with the early
history of the Architecture of the Jains. When we first practically
meet with it in the early part of the 11th century at Abu, or at
Girnar, it is a style complete and perfect in all its parts, evidently
the result of long experience and continuous artistic development.
From that point it progresses during one or two centuries towards
greater richness, but in doing so loses the purity and perfection it
had attained at the earlier period, and from that culminating point
its downward progress can he traced through abundant examples to
the present day. AVhen, however, we try to trace its upward progress
the case is widely different. General Cunningham has recently found
some Jaina statues at Muttra, with dates upon them apparently of 99
and 177 a.p.1 If this is so, it is the earliest material trace of Jaiiiism
that has yet been discovered, and they must have been associated with
buildings which may yet reward the explorer. From this time forward,
till the 11th century, we have oidy fragments of temples of uncertain
origin and date, and all in so very ruined a condition that they hardly
assist us in our researches. Yet we cannot doubt that the Jains did
exist in India, and did build temples, during the whole of this interval,
and the discovery of some of them may yet reward the industry of some
future investigator.
Meanwhile one thing seems tolerably clear, that the religions of
the Buddhists and that of the Jains were so similar to one another
1 ' Archreological Reports,' vol. iii.
]i. 31, ct scqq., plates 13 and 15. As
neither photographs nor even drawings
of tliese figures are yet available, we are
still unable to speak of their style of
art, or to feel sure of their authenticity :
nor has the era from which these dates
are to be calculated been fixed with any-
thing like certainty. The evidence, how-
ever, as it now stands, is strongly in
favour of their being what they are re-
presented to be.
BOOK IL
JAIN A ARCHITECTURE.
CHAPTER L
introductory.
Thkkk are few of the problems connected with this branch of our
subject so obscure and so puzzling as those connected with the early
history of the Architecture of the Jains. When we first practically
meet with it in the early part of the 11th century at Abu, or at
Girnar, it is a style complete and perfect in all its parts, evidently
the result of long experience and continuous artistic development.
From that point it progresses during one or two centuries towards
greater richness, but in doing so loses the purity and perfection it
had attained at the earlier period, and from that culminating point
its downward progress can he traced through abundant examples to
the present day. AVhen, however, we try to trace its upward progress
the case is widely different. General Cunningham has recently found
some Jaina statues at Muttra, with dates upon them apparently of 99
and 177 a.p.1 If this is so, it is the earliest material trace of Jaiiiism
that has yet been discovered, and they must have been associated with
buildings which may yet reward the explorer. From this time forward,
till the 11th century, we have oidy fragments of temples of uncertain
origin and date, and all in so very ruined a condition that they hardly
assist us in our researches. Yet we cannot doubt that the Jains did
exist in India, and did build temples, during the whole of this interval,
and the discovery of some of them may yet reward the industry of some
future investigator.
Meanwhile one thing seems tolerably clear, that the religions of
the Buddhists and that of the Jains were so similar to one another
1 ' Archreological Reports,' vol. iii.
]i. 31, ct scqq., plates 13 and 15. As
neither photographs nor even drawings
of tliese figures are yet available, we are
still unable to speak of their style of
art, or to feel sure of their authenticity :
nor has the era from which these dates
are to be calculated been fixed with any-
thing like certainty. The evidence, how-
ever, as it now stands, is strongly in
favour of their being what they are re-
presented to be.