On the Nalanda Trail

Posted by noelbynature under Exhibitions, Explore Singapore!, Museums/Heritage Galleries
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From now to March next year, take a Journey to the West and back at the Asian Civilisations Museum’s latest special exhibition, The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in Asia.

The Nalanda Trail aims to show visitors how Buddhism spread through Asia, through the footsteps of three Chinese monks (Fa Hsien, Xuanzang and Yi Jing) who made pilgrimages to the Nalanda University in India. The Nalanda Trail is a very special exhibition indeed, showcasing a number of rare artefacts on loan from the museums of India in particular, as well as Hong Kong, the Netherlands and other collectors.

Before we get on with the trail, we are first given an idea of who Buddha is. One of the first artefacts we see in the exhibition is an early, an-iconic representation of Buddha - while we’re accustomed to seeing Buddha figures represented over a myriad of cultures, the first few representations of Buddha were not so explicit. On this 3rd century BCE pillar, can you guess what element is Buddha?

Nope, it’s not man on the right, neither is it the snake (Naga) on the left. Buddha is in fact the throne on which the snake sits on! It seems that Buddha did not want any worship directed towards him, and so he discouraged images of himself being made. During the early years of Buddhism, the Buddha was not represented in art as an earthly person.

Starting from China, we are introduced to the protagonists of our ’story’ – three Chinese monks and their travels to the west and back to bring back sutras (teachings) from India. Faxian (399-414 AD) made pilgrimage to the birthplace of Buddha and was also kept records of his journeys - in that sense, he was one of history’s early travel writers! Two centuries later, Xuanzang (629-645 AD) and Yijing (671-695) also made trips to India, the former over land while the latter via sea. Xuanzang’s pilgrimage would later become the basis for the cherished Chinese epic, Journey to the West.

The journey first takes us through the Gobi Desert, where the our pilgrims must first negotiate through harsh, dry terrain.

Check out the ancient sunglasses – no kidding! These eye-shields were used to protect travellers’ eyes in the desert, particularly during sandstorms.

This caravan scene is part of a rare set of paintings from Dunhuang, located along the silk road between China and India.

Into India, the route brings us near Pakistan and Persia.

A tourist remarked how reminiscent this head was of greco-roman sculpture. She’s not far off - Buddhism spread westwards towards Persia, whose art was in turn influenced by the Greeks, hence the influence. In fact, in this exhibition you can see a lot of divergent styles of Buddhist art as it passes through different regions.

The Nalanda exhibition is quite simply, breathtaking, featuring a number of rare artefacts on loan from the National Museum, New Delhi. One highlight of the exhibition are bone relics that are directly associated to the Buddha himself!

And what of Nalanda? You can read more about Nalanda and the Southeast Asian connection.

Special thanks to National Heritage Board and the Asian Civilisations Museum for the permission to take photographs in the exhibition. The Nalanda Trail is on from now until March 2008. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

The Nalanda Trail is part of Explore Singapore! which happens from 10 November 2007 to 31 December 2007. For more information on Explore Singapore!, visit www.museums.com.sg/explore or call 62214463.

Tags: Explore Singapore!, Asian Civilisations Museum, On the Nalanda Trail