What is the significance of the Bodhi tree in Buddhist art?

A) The Buddha was meditating beneath it when he attained enlightenment.
B) It was the tree that sheltered the mother of the Buddha as she gave birth.
C) The tree grew thin and tall, making it a symbol of the axis mundi.
D) The Bodhi tree was sacred to the many principal gods of Buddhism.

Bodhi Tree

The sacred fig tree under which Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment.

Buddhist Art

Buddhist Art covers the visual artistic practices inspired by Buddhism, including statues, paintings, and architecture that depict Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and narratives from Buddhist texts, prevalent across Asia.

Axis Mundi

Latin, “axis of the world.” In South Asia, a tall pillar planted deep in the ground, connecting earth and sky.