Making Sense of Buddhist Art & Architecture

Description

Making Sense of Buddhist Art & Architecture is designed to equip the cultural tourist and art student with the means to interpret paintings, buildings or artefacts in terms of the iconography and symbolism of the Buddhist religion. One hundred clearly illustrated and varied historical works are thoroughly examined, enabling readers to identify the telling details that mean so much to Buddhist devotees. The book's layout is both visually striking and accessible. Each double-page spread features a full-page colour photograph of either a detail of the work or its context, depending on the subject, with a second photograph chosen to illustrate important aspects of the work. Alongside is a detailed exposition of the work's significance in Buddhist art history and philosophy, with key historical facts about the work, including where it may be seen today. By tracing the paths between Buddhist belief and artistic intention, Making Sense of Buddhist Art & Architecture deepens understanding not only of Buddhist art and architecture but also of Buddhism itself.

Patricia Karetsky is Oskar Munsterberg Lecturer in Art History at Bard College, New York.