The Kirtimukha motif in the context of Newar architecture (Nepal) and in a transcultural context

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Niels Gutschow
• Subject Area: Asian Studies
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 279617662

Witin the urban culture of the Nwars in the Kathmandu Valley the Lion-faced Kirtimukha motif appears on diverse architectural elements of Buddhist Votive buildings and Hindu temples in Stone and Wood of the 7th to 19th centuries. At selected buildings the occurence of the motif will be documented by way of measured drawings. A typological Evaluation will take into account the occurence of similar composite beings, which are exclusively cjharacterised by water symbolism. All this will be done on the basis of a graphic documentation of Details.The origin and Distribution of this extremely variagated motif will be followed in a transcultural context. The Impact of Central Asian lion Images on the cultural landscape of North India, especially the art of the Gupta period (4th to 6th century CE) will be highlighted. The way the prototypes created by the Guptas reached the near (Nepal) and wider (Java, Cambodia (periphery) is an important Focus. On a further level, the role of the Kathmandu Valley as a hub of transcultural processes of Exchange will be highlighted

• DFG Programme: Research Grants