The Evolving Relationship Between Buddhist Figures and Animals in Buddhist Artifacts: An Historical Ecology Perspective on the Buddha and the Deer

This paper investigates the evolving relationship between Buddhist figures and animals, focusing on the story of the Buddha and the deer, from an historical ecology perspective. The study explores the historical context of Buddhist artifacts, emphasizing the depiction of animals within these cultural expressions and their significance in Buddhist teachings. By analyzing artifacts across different regions and eras, the research reveals variations in how the relationship between humans and animals is portrayed, reflecting broader ecological and philosophical shifts. Through case studies and reference studies of the Buddha and the deer, this paper analyzes how these depictions vary according to geological and temporal contexts, providing new perspectives on the integration of cultural narratives and ecological concepts. The findings also highlight the impact of geographical factors on religious beliefs, especially in China and India, indicating that ecological environment and religion shape each other. This study introduces an ecohistorical perspective as a method for evaluating artifacts, providing a broader and more complex framework for understanding human relics. However, the study mainly relies on artifacts and documents, lacking firsthand information, and it is recommended that future research adopt qualitative methods such as interviews to explore people's views on the environment and religion in different religious regions.