Russian Academy of Sciences
Peter the Great’s Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkammer)
The World of an Object

December, 2001 - March, 2002

The Wheel of Life

    The "Wheel of Life" exhibition depicts a traditional Buddhist icon (tank), made in Tibet and depicting the Buddhist beliefs of life and death.
    The idea of reincarnation- the rebirth of man, animal, divine titan or hungry spirit- is one of the most basic tenants of Buddhist philosophy. Each life is followed by death, rebirth, new life and new death. This chain of infinite regeneration is seen by Buddhists as a cycle of infinite suffering, connected with the inevitability of change, aging, and death. The ultimate goal of the Buddhist is to reach nirvana and be released from this chain of regeneration.

    In the center of the picture one can see a snake, rooster, and pig- the embodiments of spite, lust, and ignorance. According to Buddhist philosophy, it is precisely these passions which turn the wheel of infinite suffering and regeneration. The snake, rooster, and pig stand around a circle, split into two pieces, black and white. These symbolize the positive and negative aspects of reincarnation. The figures found in the black half are directed downwards, meaning that they are heading towards poor reincarnations.
    The second, larger circle follows these reincarnations in more detail. Good rebirths are located in the upper regions of the circle. The highest regions depicts rebirth into the world of the Deva (gods), represented in the form of a palace surrounded by musicians. This is followed by the possibility of being born into the world of the asuras (titans). The titans were at constant war with the gods, and therefore their world is depicted in the form of battling soldiers. Next is the world of man, also considered to be a good rebirth. Buddhists believed that man had the greatest chance of reaching release (Nirvana) from the endless cycle of rebirth, simply because the gods and titans delighted in life too much, while animals suffered too much and were simply not capable of achieving release.
    Moving on to the poor reincarnations, one can see underneath the world of man the world of hungry spirits- pretas- which dwell underground. The pretas are doomed to suffer eternal hunger and can never be satiated. Being reborn as a preta was seen as the punishment of avarice.
    The world of animals is depicted underneath the world of the titans. Buddhists frown on the slaughtering of animals, as they assume that they could be your past parents or brothers, or even that you yourself could become them in a future life.
    At the very base are the Adas. In Buddhist belief there are many different hells, all located underground. Adas were divided into hot and cold regions, as well as other additional divisions- a desert, for example, covered in glowing coals. According to their beliefs, sinners will sooner or later expiate their sins and earn the right to future regenerations.
    Lastly, the outermost circle is divided into twelve separate sections. These components symbolize the attachments of man, which (like a chain) keep him stuck to this world.

    "The "Wheel of Life" is held in the hands of one of the servants of the death-god Yama. In the upper right-hand corner can be a seen a wheel with eight needles. This is the symbol of the Buddhist doctrine, which makes it possible to escape from the cycle of regenerations. In the upper left corner is the Buddha, pointing at the moon. The full moon symbolizes nirvana, deliverance from the endless cycle of life and death. To the right of the "wheel of life" is a Buddhist monk. Representatives of the "Wheel of Learning," Buddhas and monks symbolize man's alternative to the endless cycle of rebirth. This consists of following the tenants of Buddhist doctrine and striving to become a teacher-monk. Ultimately this means reaching the Buddha's state of Nirvana.