Download or read book Buddhist Treasures from Nara written by Michael R. Cunningham and published by Hudson Hills Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This magnificent volume commemorates a historic exhibition that brought early Buddhist treasures from Japan's ancient capital, mostly from the Nara National Museum, on their first visit to the West. Here are 87 transcendent masterpieces: archaeological finds, paintings, sculpture, crafts, and calligraphy from the seventh through the fourteenth centuries, works that capture Buddhism's yearning for a state of grace and for communion with the divine.
Download or read book The Art of Buddhism written by Denise Patry Leidy and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2009-10-06 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As its teachings spread from the Indian subcontinent in all directions across Asia, Buddhism influenced every culture it touched—from Afghanistan to Korea, from Mongolia to Java. Buddhist art is a radiant reflection of the encounter of the Buddha’s teachings with the diverse civilizations that came under their sway. It is also an intriguing visual record of the evolution of Buddhist practice and philosophy over a period of more than two millennia. More than two hundred photographs provide the visual context for this tour of the world of Buddhist art. Included in the rich variety of forms are architecture and monumental art, statuary, paintings, calligraphy, fresco, brushwork, and textile arts. Denise Leidy’s guide is the perfect introductory text for all those intrigued by this splendid aesthetic tradition. It also an essential resource for all who seek to understand Buddhist art as teaching.
Download or read book Behold the Buddha written by James C. Dobbins and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2020-03-31 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Images of the Buddha are everywhere—not just in temples but also in museums and homes and online—but what these images mean largely depends on the background and circumstance of those viewing them. In Behold the Buddha, James Dobbins invites readers to imagine how premodern Japanese Buddhists understood and experienced icons in temple settings long before the advent of museums and the internet. Although widely portrayed in the last century as visual emblems of great religious truths or as exquisite works of Asian art, Buddhist images were traditionally treated as the very embodiment of the Buddha, his palpable presence among people. Hence, Buddhists approached them as living entities in their own right—that is, as awakened icons with whom they could interact religiously. Dobbins begins by reflecting on art museums, where many non-Buddhists first encounter images of the Buddha, before outlining the complex Western response to them in previous centuries. He next elucidates images as visual representations of the story of the Buddha’s life followed by an overview of the physical attributes and symbolic gestures found in Buddhist iconography. A variety of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and other divinities commonly depicted in Japanese Buddhism is introduced, and their “living” quality discussed in the context of traditional temples and Buddhist rituals. Finally, other religious objects in Japanese Buddhism—relics, scriptures, inscriptions, portraits of masters, and sacred sites—are explained using the Buddhist icon as a model. Dobbins concludes by contemplating art museums further as potential sites for discerning the religious character of Buddhist images. Those interested in Buddhism generally who would like to learn more about its rich iconography—whether encountered in temples or museums—will find much in this concise, well-illustrated volume to help them “behold the Buddha.”
Download or read book Res written by Francesco Pellizzi and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2008-02-15 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Res is a journal of anthropology and comparative aesthetics dedicated to the study of the object, in particular cult and belief objects and objects of art. The journal presents contributions by philosophers, art historians, archaeologists, critics, linguists, architects, artists, among others.
Download or read book Kyoto and Nara Rough Guides Snapshot Japan written by Rough Guides and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2014-10-02 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Rough Guide Snapshot to Kyoto and Nara includes Kyoto International Manga Museum, Kinkaku-ji and Todai-ji The Rough Guide Snapshot to Kyoto and Nara is the ultimate travel guide to these Japanese prefectures. The guide leads you through the regions with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from Kinkaku-ji to the Kyoto International Manga Museum and Ine fishing village to Todai-ji. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you make the most of your trip, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from the Rough Guide to Japan, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around Kyoto and Nara, including transport, food, drink, costs, health, festivals and culture and etiquette. Also published as part of the Rough Guide to Japan. Full coverage: Kyoto Around Kyoto Nara Around Nara
Download or read book Muroji written by Sherry D. Fowler and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2005-03-31 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Murōji, a magnificent temple founded in the eighth century, is known both for its dramatic location and the exceptional quality of its ritual objects and art dating from the ninth and tenth centuries of the Heian period. Sherry Fowler makes extensive use of primary sources to explore the circumstances surrounding the creation and function of the temple’s main images and considers why major works of early Heian sculpture were housed in such a remote mountain setting. Employing a multifaceted approach that looks at Murōji’s art and architecture in socio-political context, she explores the establishment of the temple, its role in the religious life and power structure of the region, and the ways in which the temple reconfigured its early history to suit its later circumstances. Emerging from Fowler’s study are pervasive themes relating to worship and practice at Murōji that highlight plurality of practice (of different schools of Buddhism as well as Shinto); flexibility of practice and its impact on sculptural icons; the relationship of Murōji to other temple/shrine complexes; and the association of the temple with women’s worship.
Download or read book Medicine Master Buddha The Iconic Worship of Yakushi in Heian Japan written by Yui Suzuki and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2011-12-23 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through analysis of sculptural representations of the Medicine Buddha (J: Yakushi Nyorai), this book offers a fresh perspective on the seminal role played by Saich? and the Tendai school in disseminating this devotional cult throughout Japan during the Heian period.
Download or read book The Written Image written by Miyeko Murase and published by Metropolitan Museum of Art. This book was released on 2002 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lovely catalog accompanies an exhibition of the same name held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 2002-2003. The exhibition features Japanese calligraphy and paintings and sculpture of Buddhist and Shinto themes. Full descriptive entries accompany the plates of each work. Three essays introduce the catalog: a history of the collection and an essay on viewing calligraphy by Barnet and Burto, and an introduction to the calligraphy in their collection by Murase (a consultant on Japanese art at the museum). Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Download or read book Chikubushima written by Andrew Mark Watsky and published by University of Washington Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this meticulous and lucid study, Andrew Watsky keenly illustrates how private belief and political ambition influenced artsitic production at the intersection of institutional Buddhism and Shinto during this tumultuous period of rapid and radical political, social, and aesthetic changes. He offers substantial conclusions not only about the specific site, but also, more broadly, about the nature of art production in Japan and how perceptions of the sacred shaped the concerns and actions of the secular rulers ... Watsky has had unique access to the island, and many of the images included here have not previously been published. -- Book Jacket.
Download or read book Buddhist Pilgrim Monks as Agents of Cultural and Artistic Transmission written by Dorothy C. Wong and published by NUS Press. This book was released on 2018-04-28 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The period ca. 645-770 marked an extraordinary era in the development of East Asian Buddhism and Buddhist art. Increased contacts between China and regions to both its west and east facilitated exchanges and the circulation of ideas, practices and art forms, giving rise to a synthetic art style uniform in both iconography and formal characteristics. The formulation of this new Buddhist art style occurred in China in the latter part of the seventh century, and from there it became widely disseminated and copied throughout East Asia, and to some extent in Central Asia, in the eighth century. This book argues that notions of Buddhist kingship and theory of the Buddhist state formed the underpinnings of Buddhist states experimented in China and Japan from the late seventh to the mid-eighth century, providing the religio-political ideals that were given visual expression in this International Buddhist Art Style. The volume also argues that Buddhist pilgrim-monks were among the key agents in the transmission of these ideals, the visual language of state Buddhism was spread, circulated, adopted and transformed in faraway lands, it transcended cultural and geographical boundaries and became cosmopolitan.
Download or read book Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art 1600 2005 written by Patricia J. Graham and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2007-09-30 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art explores the transformation of Buddhism from the premodern to the contemporary era in Japan and the central role its visual culture has played in this transformation. Although Buddhism is generally regarded as peripheral to modern Japanese society, this book demonstrates otherwise. Its chapters elucidate the thread of change over time in the practice of Buddhism as revealed in temple worship halls and other sites of devotion and in imagery representing the religion’s most popular deities and religious practices. It also introduces the work of modern and contemporary artists who are not generally associated with institutional Buddhism and its canonical visual requirements but whose faith inspires their art. The author makes a persuasive argument that the neglect of these materials by scholars results from erroneous presumptions about the aesthetic superiority of early Japanese Buddhist artifacts and an asserted decline in the institutional power of the religion after the sixteenth century. She demonstrates that recent works constitute a significant contribution to the history of Japanese art and architecture, providing evidence of Buddhism’s compelling presence at all levels of Japanese society and its evolution in response to the needs of new generations of supporters.
Download or read book Esoteric Buddhism and Texts written by Jinhua Chen and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-02-08 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores trans-cultural and cross-border transformation of Esoteric Buddhism in East Asia, focusing on the significance of Esoteric Buddhism in relation to some forms of material culture, including rituals, arts, and the construction of sacred space and narratives. In East Asia, Esoteric Buddhism’s influences can be seen across all levels of society: not only in that it achieved a recognizable sectarian identity, but also because elements of esoteric teachings were absorbed by other religious schools, influencing their philosophical tenets and everyday practices. The influence was not confined to the religious sphere: scholars have been paying more and more attention to the significance of Tang Esoteric Buddhism in relation to material culture and the dissemination of Esoteric Buddhist technologies in South, Central, and East Asia. No matter how one looks at a maṇḍala—an integral feature of esoteric practice—or the uncannily expressive statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or Yidam that come in all shapes and sizes, or the murals that depict the variegated, mysterious themes of the esoteric tradition, one can always recognise the profound connection between art and Esoteric Buddhism. Esoteric Influences also abound in East Asian literature across different genres, displaying its unique characters both in poetry and prose. Likewise, in architecture, one can readily make out the enigmatic, colorful and distinctive elements characteristic of the esoteric tradition. Monks initiated into the esoteric lineages not only brought Buddhist classics and practices to China, but also advanced knowledge in astronomy, calendarial calculations and mathematical theories. The chapters in this volume investigate the profound and far-reaching impacts wrought by Esoteric Buddhism on rituals, arts, and the construction of sacred space and narratives in East Asia. This book will be beneficial to advanced students and researchers interested in Religious Studies, History and Buddhist studies. It was originally published as a special issue of Studies in Chinese Religions.
Download or read book A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism written by William E. Deal and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-03-31 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism offers a comprehensive, nuanced, and chronological account of the evolution of Buddhist religion in Japan from the sixth century to the present day. Traces each period of Japanese history to reveal the complex and often controversial histories of Japanese Buddhists and their unfolding narratives Examines relevant social, political, and transcultural contexts, and places an emphasis on Japanese Buddhist discourses and material culture Addresses the increasing competition between Buddhist, Shinto, and Neo-Confucian world-views through to the mid-nineteenth century Informed by the most recent research, including the latest Japanese and Western scholarship Illustrates the richness and complexity of Japanese Buddhism as a lived religion, offering readers a glimpse into the development of this complex and often misunderstood tradition
Download or read book A Dream of Resistance written by Stephen Prince and published by Rutgers University Press. This book was released on 2017-11-16 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Celebrated as one of Japan’s greatest filmmakers, Kobayashi Masaki’s scorching depictions of war and militarism marked him as a uniquely defiant voice in post-war Japanese cinema. A pacifist drafted into Japan’s Imperial Army, Kobayashi survived the war with his principles intact and created a body of work that was uncompromising in its critique of the nation’s military heritage. Yet his renowned political critiques were grounded in spiritual perspectives, integrating motifs and beliefs from both Buddhism and Christianity. A Dream of Resistance is the first book in English to explore Kobayashi’s entire career, from the early films he made at Shochiku studio, to internationally-acclaimed masterpieces like The Human Condition, Harakiri, and Samurai Rebellion, and on to his final work for NHK Television. Closely examining how Kobayashi’s upbringing and intellectual history shaped the values of his work, Stephen Prince illuminates the political and religious dimensions of Kobayashi’s films, interpreting them as a prayer for peace in troubled times. Prince draws from a wealth of rare archives, including previously untranslated interviews, material that Kobayashi wrote about his films, and even the young director’s wartime diary. The result is an unprecedented portrait of this singular filmmaker.
Download or read book Japan Report written by and published by . This book was released on 1961 with total page 884 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Material Culture of Death in Medieval Japan written by Karen Margaret Gerhart and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2009-07-29 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study is the first in the English language to explore the ways medieval Japanese sought to overcome their sense of powerlessness over death. By attending to both religious practice and ritual objects used in funerals in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, it seeks to provide a new understanding of the relationship between the two. Karen Gerhart looks at how these special objects and rituals functioned by analyzing case studies culled from written records, diaries, and illustrated handscrolls, and by examining surviving funerary structures and painted and sculpted images. The work is divided into two parts, beginning with compelling depictions of funerary and memorial rites of several members of the aristocracy and military elite. The second part addresses the material culture of death and analyzes objects meant to sequester the dead from the living: screens, shrouds, coffins, carriages, wooden fences. This is followed by an examination of implements (banners, canopies, censers, musical instruments, offering vessels) used in memorial rituals. The final chapter discusses the various types of and uses for portraits of the deceased, focusing on the manner of their display, the patrons who commissioned them, and the types of rituals performed in front of them. Gerhart delineates the distinction between objects created for a single funeral—and meant for use in close proximity to the body, such as coffins—and those, such as banners, intended for use in multiple funerals and other Buddhist services. Richly detailed and generously illustrated, Gerhart introduces a new perspective on objects typically either overlooked by scholars or valued primarily for their artistic qualities. By placing them in the context of ritual, visual, and material culture, she reveals how rituals and ritual objects together helped to comfort the living and improve the deceased’s situation in the afterlife as well as to guide and cement societal norms of class and gender. Not only does her book make a significant contribution in the impressive amount of new information that it introduces, it also makes an important theoretical contribution as well in its interweaving of the interests and approaches of the art historian and the historian of religion. By directly engaging and challenging methodologies relevant to ritual studies, material culture, and art history, it changes once and for all our way of thinking about the visual and religious culture of premodern Japan.
Download or read book Buddhism written by Chun-sik Ch'oe and published by Ewha Womans University Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is an easy-to-read general introduction to how Buddhism developed and spread to Korea. The author traces Buddhism's profound influence in China, Japan and Southeast Asia as well as in Korea and how it contributes to the cultural interaction of East and West today.
