Title
Japanese Mandalas: Representations of Sacred Geography,Used
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The first broad study of Japanese mandalas to appear in a Western language, this volume interprets mandalas as sanctified realms where identification between the human and the sacred occurs. The author investigates eighth to seventeenthcentury paintings from three traditions: Esoteric Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and the kamiworshipping (Shinto) tradition. It is generally recognized that many of these mandalas are connected with texts and images from India and the Himalayas. A pioneering theme of this study is that, in addition to the South Asian connections, certain paradigmatic Japanese mandalas reflect preBuddhist Chinese concepts, including geographical concepts. In convincing and lucid prose, ten Grotenhuis chronicles an intermingling of visual, doctrinal, ritual, and literary elements in these mandalas that has come to be seen as characteristic of the Japanese religious tradition as a whole.This beautifully illustrated work begins in the first millennium B.C.E. in China with an introduction to the Book of Documents and ends in presentday Japan at the sacred site of Kumano. Ten Grotenhuis focuses on the Diamond and Womb World mandalas of Esoteric Buddhist tradition, on the Taima mandala and other related mandalas from the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, and on mandalas associated with the kamiworshipping sites of Kasuga and Kumano. She identifies specific sacred places in Japan with sacred places in India and with Buddhist cosmic diagrams. Through these identifications, the realm of the buddhas is identified with the realms of the kami and of human beings, and Japanese geographical areas are identified with Buddhist sacred geography. Explaining why certain fundamental Japanese mandalas look the way they do and how certain visual forms came to embody the sacred, ten Grotenhuis presents works that show a complex mixture of Indian Buddhist elements, preBuddhist Chinese elements, Chinese Buddhist elements, and indigenous Japanese elements.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Japanese Mandalas: Representations of Sacred Geography'? A: The main theme of the book is the interpretation of Japanese mandalas as sacred realms where the human and the divine intersect, exploring their connections to various Buddhist traditions and pre-Buddhist Chinese concepts.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Japanese Mandalas: Representations of Sacred Geography' is Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: The book was published on November 1, 1998.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: The book contains 248 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: Is this book a first edition? A: Yes, this is the first edition of the book.
- Q: What subjects does this book cover? A: The book covers subjects related to Japanese mandalas, their historical contexts, and their connections to various religious traditions, including Esoteric Buddhism and Shinto.
- Q: Is the book suitable for beginners interested in Japanese culture? A: Yes, the book provides an accessible overview of Japanese mandalas, making it suitable for those new to the subject.
- Q: Does the book include illustrations? A: Yes, the book is beautifully illustrated, enhancing the understanding of the mandalas discussed.
- Q: Where is the book dispatched from? A: Orders for this book are dispatched from the UK warehouse the next working day.