Symbolism In Early Buddhist Art

Early Buddhist art were often aniconic as the Buddha was represented in art by using imagery and symbols and not as a person. Art pieces however, often contain religious message, iconography and symbols such as the lion. Other items in their art that reinforced the Buddhist religion was the wheel which or wheel of life which symbolized the religious belief of reincarnation, birth, and death which is helps to reinforce Buddha’s teachings. Stupas were also formed and created artistically to represent Buddha’s teaching including the wheel of life. The path around the stupa even symbolized the wheel of life or path of life. They often contained a chattra, which also reinforces the spiritual path of the believer because the three tiers represent