GANDHĀRA AND MATHURĀ ARTISTIC TRADITIONS AND THEIR RECEPTION IN BUDDHIST ART OF THE MEKONG REGION (IInd – 14th CENTURIES): A CASE STUDY OF CHAMPA AND VIETNAM

Abstract

The sculptural representation of the Buddha emerged in India around the second century BCE, with the Gandhāra and Mathurā traditions playing a foundational role in the formation of Buddhist sacred imagery. These two schools established enduring iconographic and stylistic models that were transmitted widely across Asia. In Vietnam, the reception of Gandhāra and Mathurā artistic traditions involved not simple imitation but a process of selective adaptation and localization, integrating Indian forms with indigenous aesthetic values and religious culture. This study argues that Vietnamese Buddhist sculpture represents a creative transformation of Indian prototypes, resulting in a distinctive artistic tradition characterized by serenity, refinement, and cultural harmony. The interaction between Indian and Vietnamese Buddhist art highlights the role of Buddhist visual culture as a vital medium of intercultural exchange between India and Vietnam.