Genealogy of Buddha statues

Author: (Japan) Yasuko Murata
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-08-01
Features: This book is based on seven articles published in the magazine "Monthly Cultural Treasure," sponsored by the Ministry of Finance of the Cultural Agency of Japan, from June 1989 to December 1990, and was revised and compiled into a single volume by Daito Shuppan in May 1995. To date, it has sold 92% of its printed copies in Japan. Overall, it is impossible to fully trace the genealogy of Buddha statues based solely on "formal expression." Therefore, the main focus of this book is on important facial features and the kanshōzaisu (hanging robe base), and this is also its unique feature. There are already many comprehensive surveys of general Buddha statues, and this book naturally starts with Japanese Buddha statues, exploring the origins of ancient statues with kanshōzaisu. The book covers topics such as the birth of the Buddha and the origins of Buddha statues; Gandhara; India; Afghanistan; the Han Chinese regions of China; the Korean Peninsula; and Japan.