Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu Iconography [Hardcover]

Fredrick W. Bunce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997

This dictionary attempts to reveal the Divine paradixes of Buddhist Hindu iconography by interpreting the nuances of their iconic language.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Tibetan

Product Details

• Hardcover: 473 pages
• Publisher: DK Print World Pvt.Ltd,India; 1 edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8124600619
• ISBN-13: 978-8124600610
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,931,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indispensable Guide For The Student Of Indian Iconography, March 31, 2002

By 

P. Sekirka (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu Iconography (Hardcover)

Fredrick W. Bunce has compiled a vast amount of Buddhist and Hindu symbols in an easy to use, concise work. The illustrations are very well done and compliment the text beautifully. Included in the Introduction is an overview of iconographic history as well as some of the precepts of the Buddhist and Hindu religions. The User's Guide thoroughly explains the format of the text in such a way as to comfortably familiarize the new reader to this dictionary. This is a well-written reference work that should be kept on hand.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Welcome Reference Work, September 3, 2004

By 

Michael Gunther (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu Iconography (Hardcover)

Bunce's Dictionary is a welcome reference work, whose line drawings have been frequently copied on the Internet. The book defines and comments on many iconographic elements (hand positions, body positions, attributes, etc.) found in Buddhist and Hindu art, with particular attention to alternate spellings and bibliographic references.

While some mention is made of the deities which might display an attribute, such information in the Dictionary is rather sketchy. If you want to play "name that god," the book you want is Bunce's "Encyclopedia of Hindu Deities," not Bunce's "Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu Iconography." The two books complement each other, and do not overlap.

Bunce's definitions gave me food for thought. According to Bunce, for example, the well-known prayer mudra should really be called "namaskara mudra" rather than "anjali mudra;" in another example, he defines the Buddha's "urna" as a mole on the forehead, rather than as a tuft of hair on the forehead.

The book is recommended for scholars and serious students, especially in combination with the same author's "Encyclopedia of Hindu Deities."