Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Pilgrimage

A selection of objects from different world religions associated with the physical and spiritual journey of pilgrimage.

Detail of Pilgrim map of Varanasi, or Benares, early 20th century, north India, (Museum no: EA1966.5

Pilgrimage

This is a selection of objects that can be used to consider the physical and spiritual journey of pilgrimage in several world religions. This might be particularly helpful as a teaching resource, and can be downloaded in the form of a PDF document.

You could consider:

  • What is the object?
  • Who might have used it and why?
  • How are symbols used to express belief?

Buddhism

Prayer wheel containing a scroll (EA1978.80) Prayer wheel containing a scroll (EA1978.80) Stone model of the Mahabodhi temple (EA1996.4) Stone model of the Mahabodhi temple (EA1996.4)
Gau, or reliquary locket (EA1978.72) Gau, or reliquary locket (EA1978.72) Votive plaque depicting scenes from the Buddha’s Life (EAX.415) Votive plaque depicting scenes from the Buddha’s Life (EAX.415)

Hinduism

Pilgrim map of Varanasi, or Benares (EA1966.56) Pilgrim map of Varanasi, or Benares (EA1966.56) The Jagannatha Trio within the Puri Temple (EA1967.209) The Jagannatha Trio within the Puri Temple (EA1967.209)

Islam

Pilgrim token with domed building (EA2002.31) Pilgrim token with domed building (EA2002.31) Pilgrim's flask in an embroidered linen bag (EA1994.113) Pilgrim's flask in an embroidered linen bag (EA1994.113)
Cone of dust from Mecca (EAX.3287) Cone of dust from Mecca (EAX.3287) Sitarah made for the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina (EA2012.3) Sitarah made for the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina (EA2012.3)

Jainism

Shrine to the teachers Jinadatta Suri and Jinakushala Suri (EA1997.189) Shrine to the teachers Jinadatta Suri and Jinakushala Suri (EA1997.189)

Shintoism

Pilgrims at Kasuga Taisha Shrine (EAX.5361) Pilgrims at Kasuga Taisha Shrine (EAX.5361)

References

Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2006, Pilgrimage: The Sacred Journey, Ruth Barnes and Crispin Branfoot, eds. (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2006)

Documents

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