Depictions of the narrative of the Buddha Dipankara and the hermit Sumedha in the art of Burma/Myanmar

Burma/Myanmar is a primarily Buddhist country in which depictions of Buddhist narratives figure prominently in the religious setting. Among these narratives, the story of the Buddha Dipankara and the hermit Sumedha has been and continues to be of significance in the religious art of the country. This thesis examines representations of this narrative from the earliest examples dating to the 11th century CE to contemporary depictions found at various sites throughout the country, exploring the various iconographic changes that occur throughout the periods. This study focuses on the context of the image, its relationship to other narratives, and its possible functions as a didactic and meritorious tool and also as a model for the Buddhist devotee of the path to enlightenment, as exemplified by the hermit Sumedha's actions.