This study discusses the characteristics and transformation of stupas which were the main constitutive element of ancient Gandhara Buddhist temples. The decoration in Gandhara Buddhist temples had been transformed stone sculpture into stucco; exposed stone masonry of remains, which is the target of conservation, seen at present is groundwork for stucco finishing or decoration that peeled away. However, previous Gandhara studies have been limited to only the layout and the finishing decoration from the art history and archaeological point of view. This study examines the stone masonry component of stupa plinths which have had conservation and repairing and also analyses the characteristics and transformations by examining field surveys in three areas of current Pakistani Central Gandhara, Taxila and Swat, and considering excavation survey reports of seven remains.
The previous articles I~III have discussed the characteristics and transformation of stupa plinths in each area. In this article, i.e. IV aims to examine processes and dates of transformation of stupa plinths through the interregional comparison. We examined the forms of stupa plinths from five sites out of seven sites under study where the construction era remains were reported. And it is illustrated with chronological figure (Fig. 1).
There seems to be no established classification of forms of stupa plinths, therefore this study attempted at trial classification and analysis based on only physical forms.
There are circular and square types of stupa plinths in Gandhara, a square type is a majority. As a preconditions for analysis, we categorised the form of the square type of plinths into single, double and multiple story types, also divided single story type into plinths with pilasters and without pilasters. Double story type divided into two types, one is that the size of upper and lower story are the same, and the other type is that the upper story smaller than the lower story.
The conclusions are as described below.
- The majority was single story type followed by multiple story type.
- The forms of stupa plinths transformed from single type to multiple story type. Single story types were in the early time, i.e. the beginning of establishment of Buddhist temple or just after that which is the first century A.D., and a lot of stupas of both with pilasters and without pilasters had continued constructing. Multiple story type started to be built later in the second century.
- Single story type was kept constructing from the first century to the early half of third century, and until the fifth century especially at Butkara I site.
- Significant regional characteristics were not found in the Central Gandhara; a unique double story type was found only at Takht-i-bahi site.
- In Taxila, it was found that the height of multiple story type becomes higher as time advances, and single and multiple story types started to being built a little earlier than other areas.
- Multiple story type was a minor in Swat, and unique forms which are presumed to be a double story type were found at all three sites.
Thus it was found that stupas in Gandhara has common features in it's transformation and also has regionally differences in features.
