Buddhist Manuscript Cultures: Knowledge, Ritual, and Art (Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism) - Hardcover

Book 32 of 77: Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism
 
9780415776165: Buddhist Manuscript Cultures: Knowledge, Ritual, and Art (Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism)
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0415776163 ISBN 13: 9780415776165
Publisher: Routledge, 2008

Synopsis

Buddhist Manuscript Cultures explores how religious and cultural practices in premodern Asia were shaped by literary and artistic traditions as well as by Buddhist material culture. This study of Buddhist texts focuses on the significance of their material forms rather than their doctrinal contents, and examines how and why they were made.

Collectively, the book offers cross-cultural and comparative insights into the transmission of Buddhist knowledge and the use of texts and images as ritual objects in the artistic and aesthetic traditions of Buddhist cultures. Drawing on case studies from India, Gandhara, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mongolia, China and Nepal, the chapters included investigate the range of interests and values associated with producing and using written texts, and the roles manuscripts and images play in the transmission of Buddhist texts and in fostering devotion among Buddhist communities.

Contributions are by reputed scholars in Buddhist Studies and represent diverse disciplinary approaches from religious studies, art history, anthropology, and history. This book will be of interest to scholars and students working in these fields.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Stephen C. Berkwitz is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Missouri State University. His research focuses on Buddhist Studies in Sri Lanka. At present he is preparing "South Asian Buddhism: A Survey", also for publication with Routledge.

Juliane Schober is Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, Arizona State University. Her research focuses on Theravada Buddhism in Burma, particularly on ritual, sacred geography, and the veneration of icons in the modern state cult.

Claudia Brown is Professor of Art History, Arizona State University. Her research interest is the History of Art with an emphasis in Chinese painting.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Routledge
Publication date
2008
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0415776163
ISBN 13 
9780415776165
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
222
Editor
Berkwitz Stephen C., Schober Juliane, Brown Claudia

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780415596138: Buddhist Manuscript Cultures (Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0415596130 ISBN 13:  9780415596138
Publisher: Routledge, 2009
Softcover