Related Guides
Birth of the Buddha
Birth of the Buddha - Kushan dynasty, late 2nd to early 3rd century AD, Gandhara, schist
Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Public domain: Creative Commons, Wikimedia
Books
Reading Buddhist Art by
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.
Location: Mugar Stacks N8193 .M39 2002
The Iconography of Chinese Buddhism in Traditional China by Location: Mugar Stacks N8193.C6 O57 1986
A Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols by Location: Mugar Stacks N7346.T5 B436 2003
The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by
"For artists, designers, and all with an interest in Buddhist and Tibetan art, this is the first exhaustive reference to the seemingly infinite variety of symbols found throughout Tibetan art in line drawings, paintings, and ritual objects. Hundreds of the author's line drawings depict all the major Tibetan symbols and motifs-landscapes, deities, animals, plants, gurus, mudras (ritual hand gestures), dragons, and other mythic creatures-ranging from complex mythological scenes to small, simple ornaments."
Location: Mugar Stacks N7346.T5 B43 1999
How to Read Buddhist Art by
An indispensable introduction to the evolution of Buddhist imagery from its origins in India through its spread to China, Japan, and South Asia For more than 2,000 years, sublime works of art have been created to embody essential aspects of Buddhist thought, which developed and evolved as its practice spread from India to East Asia and beyond. How to Read Buddhist Art introduces this complex visual tradition to a general audience by examining sixty seminal works. Beginning with the origins of representations of the Buddha in India, and moving on to address the development of Buddhist art as the religion spread across Asia, this book conveys how Buddhist philosophy affected artistic works and practice across cultural boundaries. Reliquaries, sculptures, and paintings produced in China, the Himalayas, Japan, Korea, and South and Southeast Asia provide insight into the rich iconography of Buddhism, the technical virtuosity of their makers, and the social and political climate in which they were created. Beautiful photographs of the artworks, maps, and a glossary of the major Buddhist deities offer an engaging and informative setting in which readers--regardless of their familiarity with Buddhism--can better understand the art related to the religion's practices and representations.
Location: Mugar Stacks N8193.A4 B44 2019
