Reading Buddhist Art [Paperback]

Meher McArthur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2004

"A concise, accessible primer to the intricate world of Buddhist art."—Publishers Weekly

Buddhism has a history of over 2,500 years, and its arts have existed for almost as long, weaving their way with monks and pilgrims through broad areas of Asia and across seas, intermingling with the arts and styles of indigenous cultures. Not surprisingly, the teachings and imagery of this international religion are vast and complex, and the task of deciphering Buddhist symbolism can seem as challenging as the search for enlightenment itself. All the principal symbols, objects, and figures of Buddhist worship are gathered here in a rich, informative, and easy-to-use book that will serve equally well as an art-lover's reference tool and as an introduction to the principles of the religion. Photographs and two-color line drawings and maps accompany the explanatory texts. With a comprehensive glossary of key Buddhist terms and a well-researched bibliography, this book will prove indispensable to anyone with an interest in Buddhism and its arts. 304 illustrations

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McArthur, curator of East Asian Art at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, has set for herself no small task: to create a concise, accessible primer to the intricate world of Buddhist art. She succeeds, although she eschews most chronological and geographical developments in Buddhist painting, sculpture, architecture and other arts in favor of a simplified, broad overview. After an excellent distillation of Buddhism's 2,500-year history, she focuses on the key figures in the bewilderingly complex Buddhist pantheon, succinctly discussing each one's identity, principal areas of worship, and specific attributes. Next, she identifies the symbolism and function of Buddhism's major ritual objects, symbols and signs, such as the meaning of the various mudras (hand gestures) of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas. Finally, she briefly discusses 14 major Buddhist sites in Asia, including the unfortunate destruction of the two colossal standing Buddhas in Afghanistan at the hands of the Taliban in 2001. She observes the statues' impressive international appeal, even in antiquity: "In the seventh century [CE], the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang" took note of the two large Buddhas "with their golden hues and dazzling ornamentation." The book itself is generously embellished with 304 black-and-white illustrations, including dozens of original line drawings washed with olive-colored highlights. McArthur avoids issues of Buddhist doctrine to a fault; integrating into her discussion the distinguishing characteristics of the various schools of Buddhism (mainly Mahayana, Vajrayana and Theravada) would clarify elements of each tradition's unique art forms and would add texture to her otherwise superb introduction.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

A concise, accessible primer to the intricate world of Buddhist art. -- Publishers Weekly

Graceful explanation of Buddhist imagery across millennia and continents...every medium from Tibetan sand mandalas to a shrine in LA. -- The Guardian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500284288
• ISBN-13: 978-0500284285
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #370,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely valuable reference for students, October 9, 2002

By 

S Leong (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Buddhist Art (Hardcover)

"Reading Buddhist Art" has been so helpful to me as a student studying Asian art because it breaks down complex symbols and iconography and makes it easy to understand. The pictures are great and the text is clear and concise. I highly recommend this book to any students or anyone who has an interest in learning and understanding the fundamental artistic components of Buddhist art. It is a key reference for me as I continue my studies.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars bewilderingly disappointing, February 1, 2004

By 

Saul Boulschett "Anyway" (Dry land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Buddhist Art (Hardcover)

I don't like to write reviews for books that are not good but I feel that people should think twice before spending their money on this one.
Imagine a book called 'Dictionary of European Words.' It would contain some German verbs, some French nouns, some Italian adjectives, etc. How useful is it going to be?
This book would be a cousin to such an imaginary but nontheless absurd book.

My main gripe is that, as someone already pointed out, it is badly organized. It is nearly useless as a reference book. The faults are too many to mention, so I shall not, except for just one example: all the pictures are B&W, and not even numbered, so that one has to sort through just to figure out which description applies to which one of the many illustration found on the same page.

The real source of the problem with this book is that it tries to cover way too many cultures -- from Thailand to Korea to Japan to Bhutan -- and it tries this in a mere 216 pages (!), including the frontispiece, blanks, and index: as if a Guide to Buddhist Art could be done like a store catalogue. Just the symbolism of the mudras alone would easily take 200 pages, I should think.

Every Buddhist culture has its own peculiar relationship and input to Buddhism. Although there are large areas of doctrinal overlap that all Buddhist cultures have in common, each culture still has its own line-up and order in the pantheon of deities, rituals, implements and practices. This book blithely glosses right over them -- like Doria looking for Nemo in the deep blue sea.

On that note, it bears mentioning that the author has a MA in Asian Art from London University's School of Oriental and African Studies, with a major in Japanese Art. My feeling is that the author herself has but a superficial familiarity with the topic at hand.
The author was either brave, reckless, or ignorant to attempt so much with so little. This is unfortunately more of a scansion than a reading, properly speaking.
(Compare Robert Beer's Encyclopaedia for a guide done right.)

But to be fair, it might be somewhat helpful to those just beginning their studies and are grabbing at straws.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful introduction, September 1, 2004

By 

Hannah L. Sigur "lecturer, writer and teacher... (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Buddhist Art (Paperback)

With its excellent organization, concise explanations in clear language, and straightforward iconographic drawings, my entry level students found Reading Buddhist Art a welcome clarifying light upon a subject that is often impenetrably intricate and arcane. They were enthusiastic about this book. McArthur's achievement is first her neutrality; she does not emphasize one branch of Buddhism over another but rather by revealing the uniting threads in a religion that expresses itself in wide variation among disparate cultures and eras, she offers an overview that allows students to attain a secure foundation of concepts as revealed through art. Second is her exceptionally well designed, easy to follow, structured organization, in which the important particulars of Buddhism are revealed according to this cosmic yet also international and historical scope, and the intricacies of symbolism are shown to have a logic that unites iconography from seeming details to major architectural forms. Short, well-written opening essays focused on history and fundamental concepts precede a pictorial survey of the essential pantheon, presented individually in hierarchical order according to the original Indian name. Each deity is accompanied by a subordinate list of major variant names as they appear in different countries, and a brief yet thorough introductory description supported by comparative iconographic illustrations. This is followed by explanations of minor symbolism, major architectural monuments, a glossary of important terms, and other essential information. The beauty of this text is that it encourages students to learn actively, from what they can see, rather than bog themselves down in abstract descriptions of doctrine. It can stand alone as a beginner's guide in at a museum or temple site, and also function as a superb supporting reference in a general introductory class. McArthur has given any interested entry-level person the means to create a solid foundation on which more specialized advanced studies can be securely built.