The Indian subcontinent has given birth to three major religions: Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. Although Buddhism developed into a world religion, it ceased to play a major role in India from the 12th century. Jainism, since it was founded in the 6th century BC, has been practised without interruption in India, but failed to spread to other countries. Hinduism today is the dominant religion in India, Nepal and Bali. Worldwide, there are today 800 million followers.
Like Christianity and Islam, Buddhism and Jainism are religions founded by a specific, historical person, namely Buddha and Mahavira. By contrast, Hinduism does not have a founder or a generally binding dogma. It is regarded as the “eternal law” which has existed from time immemorial and is preached and consolidated by holy men and divine descents.
Until roughly 2,000 years ago, none of these three religions had a divine image in human form. It was only when theism and the “Bhakti” religious practice arose, which profoundly changed Hinduism and Buddhism, that iconolatry started to flourish in India. At the centre of this new practice was the loving devotion to a personal god revealed in the cult image and influencing the world, and the endeavour to become one with this deity. This is based on the equally new idea of grace granted by a personal god who helps the individual to break free from the eternal cycle of reincarnations and to achieve redemption. Previously, redemption by deed (karma) and knowledge (bodhi) had been reserved for a small elite, and was unattainable by the mass of believers.
This exhibition presents the divine images of these three redemptive religions illustrated by 60 bronze and stone figures form India, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. The sculptures were collected by Viktor and Marianne Langen whose collection of Japanese and modern classical art were given a spectacular venue by the Japanese star architect Tadao Ando at the Raketenstation Hombroich in 2004. The sculptures give an impression of the diversity of divine manifestation in human-figurative form. The rich diversity of images reflects the continuous process of the quest for the image of god in the cultures of Asia which were influenced by India. The exhibition makes clear that the divine images of all three religions were not created by historic revelation, but by an ongoing dynamic development. The four sections show the meditative, passive gods of the other world such as the Buddhas (the awoken ones) and Tirthankaras (those who pave the way), and the active gods of this world who act on behalf of believers. The latter group include Bodhisattvas (enlightened ones) and the Hindu Devas (gods). The visual realisation of the gods in cult images is based on two contrasting ideals – the ruler of the world and the yogi. Their shape does not aspire to anatomical accuracy, but reflects the essence of a god which is expressed in posture – such as the meditative lotus position – and gesture of the hands and the number of arms and heads.
The exhibition provides an insight into the similarities of the divine images in Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. These images evoke the spirituality which is characteristic of large parts of Asia. Under the title “Ansichten Christi” (Views of Christ) the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum –Fondation Corboud – at the same time provides an insight into depictions of Jesus Christ from antiquity to the present day on the occasion of the “Weltjugendtag 2005” (World Youth Day Cologne 2005). This gives visitors the fascinating opportunity to compare the divine images of different cultures.
Rautenstrauch-Jost-Museum für Völkerkunde (Ethnology), Ubierring 45, D-50678 Köln, Tel.: +49 (0)221/33694-10, Fax: +49 (0)221/33694-10, Email: rjm@museenkoeln.de, www.museenkoeln.de
Opening times
Closed Monday, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm
Admission to special exhibition and Permanent Collection € 5, concession € 3.50
Guided tours
Sundays 2.30pm (admission charge only, guided tour free).
The Museumsdienst Koeln, Tel.: +49 (0)221/221-23468 and –27380, Email: museumsdienstkoeln@netcologne.de organises guided tours (with charge) for groups and school classes if given adequate notice.
