Creating the Universe
Depictions of the Cosmos in Himalayan Buddhism
1st Edition
Published on 22. January 2019
296 pages
978-0-295-74407-0 (ISBN)
Description
Winner, 2018 Edward Cameron Dimock, Jr. Prize in the Indian Humanities
Buddhist representations of the cosmos across nearly two thousand years of history in Tibet, Nepal, and India show that cosmology is a rich language for the expression of diverse religious ideas, with cosmological thinking at the center of Buddhist thought, art, and practice.
In Creating the Universe, Eric Huntington presents examples of visual art and architecture, primary texts, ritual ideologies, and material practices-accompanied by extensive explanatory diagrams-to reveal the immense complexity of cosmological thinking in Himalayan Buddhism. Employing comparisons across function, medium, culture, and history, he exposes cosmology as a fundamental mode of engagement with numerous aspects of religion, from preliminary lessons to the highest rituals for enlightenment. This wide-ranging work will interest scholars and students of many fields, including Buddhist studies, religious studies, art history, and area studies.
Art History Publication Initiative. For more information, visit http://arthistorypi.org/books/creating-the-universe
Buddhist representations of the cosmos across nearly two thousand years of history in Tibet, Nepal, and India show that cosmology is a rich language for the expression of diverse religious ideas, with cosmological thinking at the center of Buddhist thought, art, and practice.
In Creating the Universe, Eric Huntington presents examples of visual art and architecture, primary texts, ritual ideologies, and material practices-accompanied by extensive explanatory diagrams-to reveal the immense complexity of cosmological thinking in Himalayan Buddhism. Employing comparisons across function, medium, culture, and history, he exposes cosmology as a fundamental mode of engagement with numerous aspects of religion, from preliminary lessons to the highest rituals for enlightenment. This wide-ranging work will interest scholars and students of many fields, including Buddhist studies, religious studies, art history, and area studies.
Art History Publication Initiative. For more information, visit http://arthistorypi.org/books/creating-the-universe
Reviews / Votes
Creating the Universe will reveal to readers how much they have been missing. . . . Carefully marked diagrams, clear summaries, and exceptionally clean prose combine to make this long-overdue resource valuable for those interested in Buddhism, comparative religion, and art history. * Choice *All prices
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Seattle
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
153 illus., 118 in color, 1 map
ISBN-13
978-0-295-74407-0 (9780295744070)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
01/2019
University of Washington Press
€68.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Eric Huntington is a postdoctoral scholar in religious studies at the Ho Center for Buddhist Studies, Stanford University.
Content
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- A Note on Translations, Transliterations, and Titles
- Illustrations
- Introduction: Orienting Space and Self
- 1. Cosmos in Texts: Explaining the Blueness of the Sky
- 2. Cosmos in the Man® .ala: Salvation through Geography
- 3. Cosmos in Offering: Piling a Mountain of Treasures
- 4. Cosmos in Architecture: Sacred Space and Murals
- Conclusion: Portraits of Landscapes
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
