Buddhist Art: An Historical and Cultural Journey

Description

o Lavishly illustrated with 650 color images o Features include plans, reconstructions of monuments and their artwork, and a previously unpublished cartography o An historical and cultural tour across the vast continent of Asia, stretching from India, Sri Lanka and Gandhara to countries including Thailand, Cambodia and Burma, Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan Buddhism and its art is perhaps the one truly unifying factor of the entire Asian continent and has become a fundamental part of our shared world heritage. To draw a unique portrait of this art in a single work is a formidable undertaking due to the great plurality of traditions spanning different countries and regions over various epochs. Furthermore, the variability in the state of conservation of Buddhist monuments and their decorations provides additional challenges. The book is not only a visual feast but also a far-reaching introduction to Buddhist beliefs and practices.