Genealogy of Buddha Images: From Gandhara to Japan - Historical Evolution of Facial Expressions and Gorgeous Suspended Canopy Thrones (Illustrated Edition)

Author: (Japan) Murata Yasuko
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 Culture of Japan, from June 1989 to December 1990, and was revised. In May 1995, it was compiled into a single volume and published by Daito Shuppan. To date, it has sold 92% of its print run in Japan. Overall, it is impossible to fully clarify the genealogy of Buddha statues based on the common point of "formal expression." Therefore, this book primarily focuses on important facial expressions and the kanchōzaisu (suspension seat) as its main themes, and this is also a distinctive feature of the book. There are already many comprehensive surveys of general Buddha statues, and this book naturally begins with Japanese Buddha statues, exploring the origins of ancient statues with the kanchōzaisu. The book introduces 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.