The Four Great Temples: Buddhist Archaeology, Architecture, and Icons of Seventh-Century Japan
The Four Great Temples is a masterful, multifaceted study that will fundamentally alter and enrich current understanding of Japan's ancient Buddhist temples. It is sure to generate considerable discussion among scholars in the fields of Japanese and Asian history, art history, and Buddhist studies.
For a unique look at Pakistan's diverse cultural history, travel to the famed archaeological site of Taxila, an ancient ruined city that was once a renowned center of Buddhist learning, and explore the bustling metropolis of Lahore, noted for its splendid 16th-century Mughal architecture. At Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, viewers will be exposed to the rich heritage of Hindu and Buddhist monuments. And in Sri Lanka, experience the ancient city of Sigiriya with its magnificent Lion Mountain rock fortress.
The Encyclopedia of Buddhism is one of the first major reference tools to appear in any Western language that seeks to document the range and depth of the Buddhist tradition in its many manifestations. In addition to feature entries on the history and impact of Buddhism in different cultural regions and national traditions, the work also covers major doctrines, texts, people, and schools of the religion, as well as practical aspects of Buddhist meditation, liturgy, and lay training. Although the target audience is the nonspecialist reader, even serious students of the tradition should find much of benefit in the more than four hundred entries.
