These pieces has a major cultural influence. The top Buddha cultural influence is India, while the bottom Buddha has a Afghanistan influence. The India influence Buddha is standing up. It is different from the pieces that we saw in the Rubin museum as well. The way that it is standing up, shows how muscular it is. It has a cape that drops down to his feet. It also connects to the lines that are on the entire body. This Buddha doesn’t have a crown, it only shows the hair. But it does show wealth, since the ear lobe is low. It means that the jewelry is heavy. Also, the hands are up representing peace. But the Afghanistan influence Buddha is very different then the Indian influence Buddha. This one is sitting down. It has like a crown on the head it is not just showing the hair. It also has jewelry, representing wealth. And it also has the hands up.  But it has this long thing that is wrapped around his arms and legs. While the top Buddha has a cape on. Between both of these Buddha’s, there are many comparisons as well as differences.

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This piece really popped out to me. It is all gold and the jewelry on it, made it beautiful. Jewelry plays a significant role in wealth. You can tell that wealth is very important because it has jewelry all over the legs, chest and head. But it also has a lion and a wheel at the base. It stands for royalty. Even the lions and the wheels at the base has jewelry on them. This Buddha has four faces. Others had six faces or one. Another difference that this piece has, is the way the feet is position. It is not facing upward, rather it is facing his inner thigh. The hands are up also,  which represents peace.

This piece was interesting to me because of the small details it has and how it was different from the rest. The way that his legs are folded is different, because the palm of both his feet are facing upward. The stance looks uncomfortable. The palm of his hands are also facing upward. This is gesture of meditation. It also shows the enlightenment’s contemplative. Meaning that his hands shows the mind process of enlightenment, of how to get there. The other pieces have their hands up, which is a sign of peace. This form of the Buddha has only one face, yet the other Buddha’s have six faces. There is also jewelry that is around his arm and chest. This represents wealth. Lastly, there is a robe across his chest that signifies a certain status.

Group members: Nicole, Sara and Franklin

Chapter 16, page 152: “Soon monkey was after him, crying ‘where are you off to? If you go up to heaven I will follow you to the summit of the Pole Star, and if you go down into the earth I will follow you to the deepest pit of hell”

In this chapter monkey uses his magic to look like the monster, the beast that has claimed the youngest daughter of the farmer, bride. The monster, Pigsy, comes home and talks to monkey while Pigsy thinks it is his wife. He tells Pigsy that the farmer is going to come and stop him. Now Pigsy is leaving, and notices that his bride is actually monkey all along. Monkey chases Pigsy while he goes into the cave, screaming to him what is said in the quote. Monkey has done this many times, where he  uses his powers to make a clone of himself and always being in some trouble. Monkey has done good and bad. Yet he says he will follow Pigsy wherever.