Jataka tales

(noun)

A voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births and lives of Gautama Buddha, in both human and animal form.

Related Terms

Examples of Jataka tales in the following topics:

  • Painting in Southeast Asia

    • Buddhist art depicted images of the Buddha, the Bodhisattvas or enlightened beings, apsaras or celestial dancers, and tales and parables from Buddhist lore, including the Jataka tales—stories about the previous incarnations of the Buddha, both in human and in animal form.
    • In Thai art, the most frequent narrative subjects for paintings included the Jataka stories, episodes from the life of the Buddha, the Buddhist heavens and hells, and scenes of daily life.
    • These frescoes are reminiscent of the contemporary frescoes in the Ajanta Caves in India, which are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art and depict figures from the Buddhist pantheon and scenes from the Jataka tales.

  • Thai Painting

    • The most frequent themes for Thai painting are illustrations of the Jataka tales (a vast body of fables about the previous incarnations of the Buddha, both in human and animal form), events from the life of the Buddha, the Buddhist heavens and hells, and scenes from daily life.

  • Buddhist Rock-Cut Architecture

    • Executed using tempera technique on smooth surfaces and prepared by the application of plaster, the themes of the paintings are Buddhist and gracefully illustrate the major events of Buddha's life, the Jataka tales, and the various divinities of the Buddhist pantheon.

  • Buddhist Wall Paintings

    • The paintings depict the Jataka tales and are considered to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art.

  • Pre-Iconic Buddhist Art and Architecture

    • His presence was indicated through symbols such as the wheel, a footprint, an empty seat, or as a character in a jataka tale.

  • Gupta and Post-Gupta

    • The paintings depict the Jataka tales and are considered to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art .

  • Burmese Art

    • Three or four rectangular terraces served as the base for a pagoda, often decorated by a gallery of terracotta tiles depicting the Jataka tales.

  • Painting and Calligraphy in the Heian Period

    • Dating from about 1130, the Genji Monogatari Emaki, a famous illustrated Tale of Genji, represents the earliest surviving yamato-e handscroll, and is considered one of the high points of Japanese painting.
    • Onna-e, epitomized by the Tale of Genji handscroll, typically deals with court life, particularly the court ladies, and with romantic themes.
    • A scene from the Illustrated scroll of the Tale of Genji (written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century).

  • Wiligelmo and Other Forms of Architecture

    • On the northern side is the Porta della Pescheria ("Fish-Market Gate"), with reliefs inspired by the cycle of the year's twelve months (on the doorposts) and tales from the Breton Cycle of King Arthur (on the arch).

  • Maurya Dynasty

    • Another famous example includes the Great Stupas at Sanchi, whose gates are lavishly decorated with lions, elephants, figures of fertility, and images from the Jakata tales.