Buddhism Illuminated Creating the Universe

22 newbooks.asia Asian Studies. Newest Titles. The Review Latest Reviews. of the two merchants (who in earlier legends were Indian) and connects them to Burma. Many of the Thai (or Tai) manuscripts deal with the legend of Phra Malai, a monk Buddhism illuminated endowed with immense merit who travels to the Buddhist heavens and hells in a manner broadly similar to Dante’s Divine Comedy, Donald M. Seekins Reviewed title learning of the future decline of Buddhism Buddhism Illuminated: as well as its revival by the Metteyya or Future Buddha. Manuscript Art from In the Introduction, the physical Southeast Asia characteristics of the manuscripts and their bindings are described in great detail: ike the Abrahamic religions of the West San San May and Jana Igunma. 2018. one type, known as parabaik in Burmese, (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), were painted on strips of paper which were LBuddhism has employed art in many London: The British Library folded tightly together, bound with cords forms to convey its message to people. In the ISBN 9780712352062 and protected with often intricately Theravada Buddhist countries of mainland decorated wooden covers or binding-boards. Southeast Asia (Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, Other manuscripts were inscribed on palm- Cambodia, and Laos), the most well-known leaves, usually lacquered or gilded around and visually arresting expressions of Buddhist the edges, which were also stacked together teachings have been monumental or finely- to make separate volumes. Usually, the crafted structures (e.g. pagodas, temples, Although such large and splendid Buddhist a major development in the study of Buddhist parabaik volumes were comprised of and monasteries) that have over the centuries structures and imagery are difficult for the illuminated manuscripts not only because it mulberry paper, which is still used today in functioned as places of study, meditation visitor to miss, the Theravada countries of includes a much larger selection of this genre, Burmese crafts. The Tipitaka, the Buddhist and pilgrimage for devotees. These include Southeast Asia also possess a much less known but also since it includes works from central scriptures, were inscribed on palm leaves, the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon/Yangon, art form that is very similar to the illuminated and northern Thailand and the Tai-speaking often using a special script of Burmese Burma, the temples and pagodas of Pagan/ manuscripts of medieval Europe. Like their Shan States as well as central Burma. Its letters known as tamarind seed (or ‘square’) Bagan in central Burma, the Phra Pathom western counterparts, they present intimate great merit lies in the fact that the editors script, because of their special shape. Given Chedi (pagoda) outside of Bangkok, Thailand, and condensed visual religious ‘lessons’ in have not only created a beautifully illustrated the heat and humidity of mainland Southeast Wat Doi Suthep on a mountain outside of bright and appealing colors, highly stylized volume in the coffee table book mode (given Asia, the manuscripts were traditionally Chiang Mai, Thailand, and the Phra That (there is little room for innovation) and directed its size and heaviness, this is hardly the book wrapped in silk, tied up with special and Luang Chedi in Vientiane, Laos. Also playing a toward helping the viewer to make his or her one would choose as travel reading), but often beautifully decorated ribbon-bindings role in the propagation of Buddhist teachings own progress on the road to nibbana (nirvana). also have presented it in a form in which and stored in wooden chests – usually have been famed Buddha images such as the Usually combining miniature pictures with the illuminations are grouped together to made of teak – which themselves were Maha Myat Muni image in Mandalay, Burma, sacred text or at least an explanation, they depict and explain (Theravada) Buddhism’s often attractively decorated. These chests and the Emerald Buddha located in the royal encompass depictions of the Cosmos in Hindu- basic doctrines: lavishly illustrated chapters had to be made capable of tight closing, temple-palace complex in Bangkok, as well Buddhist terms, the Birth Tales, the lives of are devoted to the Buddha, his teachings lest rats or insects enter and devour the as colossal reclining Buddha figures of which Gotama Buddha and his disciples and scenes (Dhamma), the Buddhist monkhood (the manuscripts. the most famous are found in Pegu (Bago), of Buddhist festivals and ceremonies, especially sangha), cause and effect (kamma, more Buddhism Illuminated is comprised of Burma, and the palace in Bangkok. Many of those sponsored by the royal family. As in the widely known as karma), and the supremely over 100 illuminations in the British Library’s these sacred places have been elaborately European illuminated manuscripts, rarely, if important work of making merit in daily life collection, most of whom originated in decorated with frescoes and paintings ever, is effort made to place these scenes in through donations to Buddhist monks and Burma or Thailand. The authors comment illustrating the life of Gotama Buddha or the their original (Indian) context; instead, episodes holy places and the performance of good that a large number of Burmese manuscripts Jataka Tales, which tell of his previous lives of sacred history, including their human deeds (punna). For western readers interested were ‘acquired’ from a royal collection in before becoming the Enlightened One, as participants and physical surroundings, are in Buddhism, Buddhism Illuminated provides Mandalay, the old royal capital, after the well as representations of elephants, nagas placed in Burmese or Thai settings and often a compelling combination of pleasing-to-view Third Anglo–Burmese War of 1885 (p.9). (dragons/snakes), demons, and other real or give us a vivid picture of what life was like – pictures and clearly-written text that that is A more accurate term might be ‘stolen’ since fantastic creatures from Hindu and Buddhist at least on elite levels – in pre-colonial mainland necessarily missing from prose-only books the Mandalay Palace was thoroughly looted mythology. Southeast Asia. – with perhaps only a few illustrations of after the British victory by locals as well Relatively little attention has been paid to pagodas or Buddha images – that attempt as British soldiers. But perhaps this is not In 21st century Burma, where Buddhist these illuminated manuscripts in the West. to explain the religion in abstract terms. the place to accuse the British Library of values remain exceptionally strong, the In her Arts of Southeast Asia, Fiona Kerlogue For example, on page 11, the authors being a treasure house of looted artifacts, prominence of Buddhist art is one of the makes brief mention of Burmese illuminated provide a 19th century Burmese illumination though is doubtful that the Burmese items things that impresses the visitor the most, as manuscripts (London: Thames & Hudson, 2004, of the legend of Taphussa and Bhallika, two – most of which date from the 19th century military governments in recent years have 124-125). In 1992, A specialist at the British Mon merchants who meet the Buddha just – were obtained fairly or peaceably. striven to add to the country’s inventory Library, Patricia Herbert, published a volume, after his Enlightenment, giving him offerings The splendor of this volume does lead of Buddhist sites (for example, the White The Life of the Buddha (London: the British and hearing his first sermon. Gotama Buddha the reader to wonder whether treasures Stone Buddha image in Rangoon and the Library: Pomegranate Artbooks, 1993), using two bestows on them eight hairs from the top such as these, spirited off to the colonial Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw, Burma’s Burmese manuscripts in the library’s collection of his head, which after many adventures Metropole during centuries of European new capital). The goal of the country’s military and contributed a chapter on this genre to they take back to their native country in expansion into Asia and Africa, shouldn’t rulers has been not only to earn Buddhist Alexandra Green and Richard Blurton’s Burma: Lower (southern) Burma and enshrine in the someday be returned to their countries merit for themselves (Burmese: kutho) as Art and Archeology (Burmese cosmological Shwedagon Pagoda, recognized by Burmese of origin – at least when suitable facilities pagoda-builders or restorers, but to assert manuscripts, in Alexandra Green and T. Richard Buddhists as the single most important sacred for housing them can be built so that local their political legitimacy in Buddhist terms. Blurton (eds) Burma: Art and Archeology, place in their country. This illumination people can enjoy access to the glories The old saying, ‘to be Burmese is to be London: British Museum Press, 2002, 77-98). is far more arresting visually than the of their past. Buddhist,’ is still valid for 90 per cent of the The work under review here, San San May 15th century stone inscriptions donated by country’s population who identify as followers and Jana Igunma’s Buddhism Illuminated: King Dhammazedi to the platform of the Donald M. Seekins, of Buddha’s teachings. Manuscript Art from Southeast Asia, represents Shwedagon which first relates the legend Meio University, Japan hen the 19th century Mongolian Vajrayāna practise of Himalayan Buddhism, monk-poet Danzanravjaa named a the world and the mind are reflections of one Creating the universe Wsmall rectangular area of the Gobi another, and in the recognition of the cosmos Desert close to his monastery at Hamarin Hiid as inherently enlightened, the practitioner ‘Shambhala’, he was showing his students how likewise recognizes the inherent enlightened Simon Wickhamsmith Indo-Tibetan Buddhist cosmology could be state of mind. translated into their own lived experience of the The book’s four chapters explore this teaching in Mongolia. Right before them the cosmological process of realization through Gobi was transformed into a Pure Land, and four key ideas.

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