Download or read book Voyage of the Emerald Buddha written by Karen Schur Narula and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 1994 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chronicles the odyssey of Thailand's Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, from its roots in India, to Sri Lanka, Burma, and beyond
Download or read book Jewels Jewelry and Other Shiny Things in the Buddhist Imaginary written by Vanessa R. Sasson and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2021-09-30 with total page 383 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Renunciation is a core value in the Buddhist tradition, but Buddhism is not necessarily austere. Jewels—along with heavenly flowers, rays of rainbow light, and dazzling deities—shape the literature and the material reality of the tradition. They decorate temples, fill reliquaries, are used as metaphors, and sprout out of imagined Buddha fields. Moreover, jewels reflect a particular type of currency often used to make the Buddhist world go round: merit in exchange for wealth. Regardless of whether the Buddhist community has theoretically transcended the need for them or not, jewels—and the paradox they represent—are everywhere. Scholarship has often looked past this splendor, favoring the theory of renunciation instead, but in this volume, scholars from a wide range of disciplines consider the role jewels play in the Buddhist imaginary, putting them front and center for the first time. Following an introduction that relates the colorful story of the Emerald Buddha, one of the most famous jewels in the world, chapters explore the function of jewels as personal identifiers in Buddhist and other Indian religious traditions; Buddhaghosa’s commentary on the Jewel Sutta; the paradox of the Buddha’s bejeweled status before and after renunciation; and the connection in early Buddhism between jewels, magnificence, and virtue. The Newars of Nepal are the focus of a chapter that looks at their gemology and associations between gems and celestial deities. Contributors analyze the Fifth Dalai Lama’s reliquary, known as the “sole ornament of the world”; the transformation of relic jewels into precious substances and their connection to the Piprahwa stupa in Northern India and the Nanjing Porcelain Pagoda. Final chapters offer detailed studies of ritual engagement with the deity known as Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Avalokiteśvara and its role in the new Japanese lay Buddhist religious movement Shinnyo-en. Engaging and accessible, Jewels, Jewelry, and Other Shiny Things in the Buddhist Imaginary will provide readers with an opportunity to look beyond a common misconception about Buddhism and bring its lived tradition into wider discussion.
Download or read book Becoming the Buddha written by Donald K. Swearer and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-07-21 with total page 351 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Becoming the Buddha is the first book-length study of a key ritual of Buddhist practice in Asia: the consecration of a Buddha image or "new Buddha," a ceremony by which the Buddha becomes present or alive. Through a richly detailed, accessible exploration of this ritual in northern Thailand, an exploration that stands apart from standard text-based or anthropological approaches, Donald Swearer makes a major contribution to our understanding of the Buddha image, its role in Buddhist devotional life, and its relationship to the veneration of Buddha relics. Blending ethnography, analysis, and Buddhist texts related to this mimetic reenactment of the night of the Buddha's enlightenment, he demonstrates that the image becomes the Buddha's surrogate by being invested with the Buddha's story and charged with the extraordinary power of Buddhahood. The process by which this transformation occurs through chant, sermon, meditation, and the presence of charismatic monks is at the heart of this book. Known as "opening the eyes of the Buddha," image consecration traditions throughout Buddhist Asia share much in common. Within the cultural context of northern Thailand, Becoming the Buddha illuminates scriptural accounts of the making of the first Buddha image; looks at debates over the ritual's historical origin, at Buddhological insights achieved, and at the hermeneutics of absence and presence; and provides a thematic comparison of several Buddhist traditions.
Download or read book Political Landscapes of Capital Cities written by Jessica Joyce Christie and published by University Press of Colorado. This book was released on 2016-08-08 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Political Landscapes of Capital Cities investigates the processes of transformation of the natural landscape into the culturally constructed and ideologically defined political environments of capital cities. In this spatially inclusive, socially dynamic interpretation, an interdisciplinary group of authors including archaeologists, anthropologists, and art historians uses the methodology put forth in Adam T. Smith’s The Political Landscape: Constellations of Authority in Early Complex Polities to expose the intimate associations between human-made environments and the natural landscape that accommodate the sociopolitical needs of governmental authority. Political Landscapes of Capital Cities blends the historical, political, and cultural narratives of capital cities such as Bangkok, Cusco, Rome, and Tehran with a careful visual analysis, hinging on the methodological tools of not only architectural and urban design but also cultural, historiographical, and anthropological studies. The collection provides further ways to conceive of how processes of urbanization, monumentalization, ritualization, naturalization, and unification affected capitals differently without losing grasp of local distinctive architectural and spatial features. The essays also articulate the many complex political and ideological agendas of a diverse set of sovereign entities that planned, constructed, displayed, and performed their societal ideals in the spaces of their capitals, ultimately confirming that political authority is profoundly spatial. Contributors: Jelena Bogdanović, Jessica Joyce Christie, Talinn Grigor, Eulogio Guzmán, Gregor Kalas, Stephanie Pilat, Melody Rod-ari, Anne Parmly Toxey, Alexei Vranich
Download or read book Voyage East written by Richard Woodman and published by Canelo + ORM. This book was released on 2019-06-27 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A stirring tale of life aboard ship during the last great days of the Merchant Navy New junior officer Laddie signs on to the cargo liner Antigone on a voyage to the Far East. He finds himself part of a crew who all have their own stories to tell about life at sea. Over the course of the eventful journey to Hong Kong and Singapore, he comes to know them all, from Captain ‘China Dick’ Richards and the experienced and remote Master to the vulnerable young radio officer Sparks and the deck crew. Little does Laddie know, but this voyage will be a turning point for Antigone and all who sail in her... Perfect for fans of Patrick O’Brian and Dewey Lambdin, Richard Woodman draws upon his six years of service on ships to evocatively capture life aboard.
Download or read book The World Our Voyage written by Jud Smith and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2006-09-14 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You may have been to Mexico or the Caribbean Islands. You may have visited London, Paris or even Rome. But have you ever experienced exotic Bali, rustic Borneo or the warm breezes and aquamarine waters of French Polynesia? How about Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila or mysterious Myanmar? Join an around the world cruise with seasoned travelers as they explore diverse cultures in 52 ports of call in 29 different countries. Using a combination of historical facts, keen observation and vibrant photography, the author brings you the sights, sounds, smells and ambiance of this exciting 122 day circumnavigation of the globe. Written in a factual and humorous style, with poems and short stories, this travelogue chronicles a truly memorable adventure that is both entertaining and educational.
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Sacred Places 2 volumes written by Norbert C. Brockman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2011-09-13 with total page 724 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now thoroughly revised and updated, this encyclopedia documents the diversity of shrines, temples, holy places, and pilgrimage sites sacred to the world's major religious traditions, and illustrates their elemental place in human culture. As interest increases in the role of world religions in history and international affairs, the new edition of Encyclopedia of Sacred Places—which arrives 15 years after the publication of the original edition—provides new and updated information on site-specific religious practice and spiritually significant locations around the globe. While many of the entries describe specific places, like the Erawan Shrine and the Rock of Cashel, others examine types of sacred sites, pilgrimages, and practices. With articles that describe both the places and their associated traditions and history, this reference book reveals the enormous diversity and cultural significance of religious practice worldwide. For students and teachers of classes ranging from high school geography to university-level courses in religious studies, geography, anthropology, and sociology, this book provides essential reference on places of great significance to the world's various faith traditions.
Download or read book Anthropology of Precious Minerals written by Elizabeth Ferry and published by University of Toronto Press. This book was released on 2020 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on a Wenner-Gren international workshop, held at the Royal Ontario Museum, this book addresses the complexity of human-mineral engagements through ethnographic case studies and anthropological reflections on different people and the minerals they deem 'precious.'
Download or read book Bon Voyage Agnes Mary written by Maud O. Banks and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2017-03-20 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this stirring and enchanting book, Banks tells the intensely human story of a dying woman, Agnes Mary, whose recordings in her diary reveals the struggles and devotion of her fellow travelers in distant, foreign lands and leaves a legacy of hope and encouragement to all who read this tale of guts and valor. This saga is based on our heros extensive diary; her near-motionless body that lay in bed, soon to remain forever still; her weak voice that will before long become silent, with faint breath that in a little while would be snuffed out. Her loving sister, Sister Dorothea, uttered Agnes Marys last words for her with deep affection and honor. Then, there is Verona at the center of the narrative as she relates events in the life of our hero, Agnes Mary, and her companions on their journey toward their destiny. Banks has created a powerful and timely presentation of a story that transcends the farce, travesty, and pettiness that enables waning morals in todays society. Her purpose is to create a noble and pure workone of substance and remarkable charm. Set in a suburb of Cincinnati several years ago, this novel reminds us how life slips through our hands and passes quickly away and is gone, yet when we understand these natural occurrences, life gets easier.
Download or read book Buddhisms written by John S. Strong and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2015-07-02 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Buddhism or Buddhisms? By the time they move on to Buddhism in Japan, many students who have studied its origins in India ask whether this is in fact the same religion, so different can they appear. In Buddhisms: An Introduction, Professor John S. Strong provides an overview of the Buddhist tradition in all its different forms around the world. Beginning at the modern day temples of Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, Strong takes us through the life of the Buddha and a study of Buddhist Doctrine, revealing how Buddhism has changed just as it has stayed the same. Finally, Strong examines the nature of Buddhist community life and its development today in the very different environments of Thailand, Japan, and Tibet. Enriched by the author’s own insights gathered over forty years, Buddhisms never loses sight of the personal experience amidst the wide-scope of its subject. Clear in its explanations, replete with tables and suggestions for further reading, this is an essential new work that makes original contributions to the study of this 2,500 year-old religion.
Download or read book The US Thai Alliance and Asian International Relations written by Gregory Raymond and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-05-30 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thailand, a long-standing defence partner of the United States and ASEAN’s second largest economy, occupies a geostrategically important position as a land bridge between China and maritime Southeast Asia. This book, based on extensive original research, explores the current state of US-Thai relations, paying particular attention to how the United States is perceived by a wide range of people in the Thai defence establishment and highlighting the importance of historical memory. The book outlines how the US-Thai relationship has been complicated and at times turbulent, discusses how Thailand is deeply embedded in multi-faceted relationships with many Asian states, not just China, and examines how far the United States is blind to the complexities of Asian international relations by focusing too much on China. The book concludes by assessing how US-Thai relations are likely to develop going forward. Additionally, the work contributes to alliance theory by showing how domestic politics shapes memory, which in turn affects perceptions of other states.
Download or read book Buddhist Sculpture of Northern Thailand written by Carol Stratton and published by Serindia Publications, Inc.. This book was released on 2004 with total page 430 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Thailand written by Maurizio Peleggi and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2007-05-30 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tourist brochures and travel guides depict Thailand as an exotic country with a rich cultural heritage, strong religious traditions, and a popular monarchy. Historians also contribute to Thailand’s international allure with chronicles of its unique historical and cultural continuity in comparison to the other southeast Asian countries, whose histories are stained by colonialism and nationalist struggles for independence. Thailand challenges these stereotypes with a reinterpretation as well as an introduction to the emergence of Thailand as a nation-state. The book argues that the development of Thai nationhood was a long-term process shaped by interactions with the outside world, its pursuit of civilization, and, more recently, globalization. Maurizio Peleggi’s original account investigates, among other issues, the evolution of the geographical and linguistic landscapes, changes in class and gender relations, the role of institutions and ideologies, modern cultural expressions, social memory, and the conception of the Thai national self as contrasted against the racial and cultural Others of Burmese, Chinese and Westerners. Thailandis a concise and compelling introduction to the complexities that lie behind Thailand’s exotic facade.
Download or read book Mystery of the Emerald Buddha written by Betty Cavanna and published by William Morrow & Company. This book was released on 1976-01-01 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the sacred Emerald Buddha is stolen from a Bangkok temple, a young girl and her father try to solve the mystery surrounding its disappearance.
Download or read book 1000 Buddhas of Genius written by T.W. Rhys Davids Ph.D. LLD. and published by Parkstone International. This book was released on 2014-11-24 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: „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.
Download or read book The Emerald Buddha written by Leonie Campbell and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2006 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This powerful story weaves a hypnotic spell on its readers and draws you into Michelle's terror until the final scenario. Michelle's life is about to explode with sinister reality and only Nicholas' strength can save her.
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Modern Asia written by David Levinson and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 648 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Volume two of a six-volume set in which alphabetically arranged entries provide information on every aspect of modern Asia, including its culture, people, economy, government, arts, geography, architecture, religion, and history.
