Interrelationships in South and Southeast Asian Art:
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Chau, My Ket
Title Proper by Another Author
Cham Female Iconography, Buddhist Inscriptions and the Seated Buddha Image
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Brown, Robert L
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
UCLA
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2014
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Body granting the degree
UCLA
Text preceding or following the note
2014
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
The majority of archaeology in Champa consists of Hindu arts and architecture. Buddhism co-existed with Hinduism, but it was not the dominant religion. In 875 CE, Indravarman II was the first Cham ruler to actively support Buddhism with the construction of the Dong Duong temple located in present-day Binh Dinh, Vietnam. An analysis of Sanskrit Buddhist inscriptions helps shed light on Cham royal women. The inscriptions revealed that royal women and the king shared an interest in Buddhism. Narrative relief carvings from two altar pedestals displayed the prominent role of females. In addition, a rare seated Buddha statue with the legs pendant-- a posture associated with female goddesses also intensified the importance of female power. In the 9th century, the female role in art at Dong Duong is extraordinary in the Buddhist context. I argue, that the seated Buddha with the legs pendant and narrative relief panels of the Buddha's life depicted at the temple emphasized the female realm.