Page 6 - World Buddhist Heritage Through Stamps

INDIA

Buddhist Monuments at SANCHI

The masterpiece of Indian carvings

Year of Inscription: 1989

The historical site of Sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist

monuments (monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries)

all in different states of conservation most of which date back to the

2nd and 1st centuries BC. It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in

existence and was a major Buddhist centre in India until the 12th

century AD.

The Great Stupa (Stupa no. 1) was originally built in the 3rd century

BC by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and is believed to house ashes 桑奇⼤塔托拉纳塔⻔
Sanchi Stupa Torana
of the Buddha. The simple structure was damaged during the 2nd (⽇本 Japan: 2007)

century BC. It was later repaired and enlarged, and elements such as

four elaborately carved toranas and a balustrade encircling the entire

structure were added. There are rich and magnificent reliefs on

toranas record the Buddha’s life legends and the Jataka.

桑奇⽯雕像 Stone Carving

(⽇本 Japan: 2007)