Reading Buddhist Art

by Meher McArthur

"A concise, accessible primer to the intricate world of Buddhist art."― Publishers Weekly Buddhism has a history of over 2,500 years, and its arts have existed for almost as long, weaving their way with monks and pilgrims through broad areas of Asia and across seas, intermingling with the arts and styles of indigenous cultures. Not surprisingly, the teachings and imagery of this international religion are vast and complex, and the task of deciphering Buddhist symbolism can seem as challenging as the search for enlightenment itself. All the principal symbols, objects, and figures of Buddhist worship are gathered here in a rich, informative, and easy-to-use book that will serve equally well as an art-lover's reference tool and as an introduction to the principles of the religion. Photographs and two-color line drawings and maps accompany the explanatory texts. With a comprehensive glossary of key Buddhist terms and a well-researched bibliography, this book will prove indispensable to anyone with an interest in Buddhism and its arts. 304 illustrations

Genres: Buddhism, Art, Asia, Canon, Nonfiction, Reference

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I got a copy of this early in my study of Buddhist art. It will be a great reference to have close by.

[Rino Landa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great introduction to Buddhist Art, but lacking some of the academic rigor and depth found in other region-specific works.

A striking feature of the book is the inclusion of the different translations for Buddhist deities, acts, motifs, and themes in the predominate languages of Buddhism: Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Mongolian, Vietnamese, and Thai. For those of us that know at least one of the native scripts, it is a little disappointing to find only the Romanized versions. However, the inclusion of the different translations acts as a great reference for those working with Buddhist art across Asia.

The images included in the guide are plentiful, varied, and of excellent quality. However, the striking images are limited to a grayscale pallet; an especially lamentable choice due to the inclusion of many exquisite printed works and paintings. Luckily, the large size of the images and a clever use of simplified line drawings (which highlight specific details or concepts reflected in the included images) work together to provide an accessible reference guide for those interested in Buddhist art.

[Annette Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must have for anyone interested in Asian art - in particular Buddhist art. The book is divided into three sections: The Buddhist Pantheon, Signs, Symbols, and Ritual Objects, and Major Buddhist Sites.

Many b/w photo examples as well as line drawings with the part defined being highlighted in gold.

Each subject is numbered for cross-reference and generally occupies two pages - the first consisting of photos/drawings and the second with description/explanations.

The names are given in several languages - mainly, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese.

The back of the book has a great glossary of popular Buddhist terms.

Great reference.