Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 9-12 Subject: Humanities/Social Studies

Destruction in Bamiyan

Colossal statues of Buddah carved into sandstone cliffs of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, were recently demolished by the Taleban, the fundamentalist Islamic militia that has governed most of Afghanistan since 1996. Amid international protests, the Taleban ordered their destruction as part of a campaign to rid the land of all pre-Islamic idols considered by them to be an assault on Islam.

The ancient statues were the tallest Buddhas in the world, standing at 53 meters (175 feet) and 36 meters (120 feet). They had survived the ravages of Genghis Khan, centuries of invasions and wars, and the natural wear of the elements — but evidence now shows that they have fallen victim to the explosives and pickaxes of the Taleban.

In this week's lesson, you will learn a little of what is known about these magnificent works of art. You will also learn about Buddhism and the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, and about the Taleban and their ruthless control of Afghanistan.

The Buddhas of Bamiyan

Start this week's lesson by visiting Purabudaya, a site dedicated to the arts of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Once there, go to the The Buddhas of Bamiyan page. Read the article by Jet van Krieken about the Buddahs of Bamiyan and the efforts of international groups to preserve them. When were the statues built? Who built them and why? Describe the way the Buddhas originally appeared.

If you are a serious lover of Eastern art and history, you can learn more about the significance of the statues at The Colossal Buddhas at Bamiyan site at the Digital Buddhist Library and Museum. It's short, but fairly difficult reading.

To see additional images of the statues, try these two links. A day in Bamiyan is a photojournal by A Raffaele Ciriello. It has some great statue photos as well as an interesting portrait of Taleban forces in the area. Buddhist China/Silk Road opens a photo of the larger statue, apparently taken before much of the recent damage had been done.

Introduction to Buddhism

To better understand the significance of the Buddha statues at Bamiyan, you should know a little about the basic tenets of Buddhism and the story of the foundation of Buddhism. Start with An Introduction to Buddhism at the Shippensberg University site. After reading opening text, click The Life of Siddhartha Gautama. He was a prince of what is now Nepal who, in the 5th century BC, became Buddha, which means "he who is awake." Who helped Siddhartha find the middle way? What kind of tree was Buddha sitting under when he achieved enlightenment? What were the last words of Buddha?

Return to the main page and click The Basics of Buddhist Wisdom. Here you can read about the basics of Buddhist belief, including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Another site where you can find additional information about the basics of Buddhism is the Trycicle site, a journal of Buddhism. Click Buddhist Basics, and then click The Basics of Buddhism. This page has some additional historical information, as well as an overview of the philosophy. Why is there "no one Buddhism"?

The Taleban

To close your weekly lesson, spend a few minutes investigating the Taleban, the unofficial military government of Afghanistan. Start by reading Origins, ideology and strategy of Taleban. If you find this reading a bit heavy-handed, try reading "Tribal acts giving a false view of Muslims." According to this author, in what ways are the Taleban out of step with the teachings of Islam?

For a third view of the Taleban, read the BBC News report, Analysis: Who are the Taleban? What did the Taleban do to gain popularity with Afghans? Why are there U.N. sanctions against Afghanistan and the Taleban?

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