Ruthless Compassion: Wrathful Deities in Early Indo-Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art (Hardcover)

~ Rob Linrothe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Despite an impressive body of distinguished scholarship on the history of esoteric Buddhism in India, it is only sketchily understood. The author assembles hundreds of works of art, analyzing them formally and stylistically, to determine the chronology of their iconographic themes. This group of art objects is comprised mainly of sculpture surviving from the sixth to the thirteenth centuries at widely scattered sites throughout eastern India, Europe and America. Collectively, the group provides a continuous historical record of the evolution of esoteric Buddhist belief and practice - a record that supplements and often challenges the conclusions of exclusively textual histories.

About the Author

Robert N. Linrothe is Assistant Professor of Art History at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 354 pages
• Publisher: Art Media Resources (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0906026512
• ISBN-13: 978-0906026519
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,119,741 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on an obscure subject, June 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ruthless Compassion (Hardcover)

Rob Linrothe has written a superb book on the evolution of Wrathful Deities in India and Tibet. Photos taken by the author and excellent explanations show us in exquisite detail how this form of art developed over the centuries. A wonderful book for those looking to understand Esoteric Buddhism!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource, February 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ruthless Compassion (Hardcover)

Rob Linrothe's book is a must-have for any interested student of Esoteric Buddhism. It combines the author's knowledge of the religious texts with art historical analysis and provides a wonderful survey on the development of wrathful Buddhist deities from secondary attendant figures to objects of worship in their own right.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not for beginners unless this is YOUR interest . . . , February 12, 2008

By	Kat Smiles "www.trishnajewelry.com" (northwest city) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ruthless Compassion (Hardcover)

. . . but this is an excellent read on the evolution of eastern Wrathful, great for serious students of eastern religions or for a larger esoteric library or as an artist!