1000 Buddhas of Genius

Description

„All living beings are Buddhas and have wisdom and virtue within them. (Buddha) Buddha ranks among the most often depicted holy figures of the world perhaps appearing more than Christ, a subject widely treated by Western artists. Venerated in all the nations of Asia, and even beyond, his image took form along the Silk Road, the birthplace of many schools of Buddhism. Indeed, the Buddhist religion recognises many Buddhas representing various traditions: such as Buddhism of „the Ancient Teaching‰ (Theravada), of „the Great Vehicle‰ (Mahayana) and Tantric Buddhism (Varjrayana). A figure adored by all, Buddha has been depicted in every art form: sculpture, often of monumental size, like the now destroyed Buddhas of Bamyan, painting, and above all in countless cave murals, such as those of Ajanta in India or Dunhuang in China. Perfect for all those passionate about Asian art, from neophytes to Buddhists, this fascinating work invites the reader to discover or rediscover Buddha, his history, his codes, but also his innumerable faces through one thousand representations selected from among the most beautiful works held in the worldÊs greatest museums. Contents......Page 5 The Life of the Buddha......Page 9 India, Sri Lanka and Central Asia......Page 111 Thailand and Southeast Asia......Page 159 Himalayan countries......Page 299 China......Page 355 Korea and Japan......Page 457 Appendix......Page 513 Glossary......Page 516 Chronology......Page 526 Timeline of the World Religions......Page 536 Bibliography......Page 538 Index by Museum......Page 540 Index by Country......Page 542