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Future Buddha Maitre...
Future Buddha Maitreya
An Iconological Study by: Inchang KimThe book highlights the historical evolution of different phases of Maitreya iconography in various regions of the Indian subcontinent. Dr. Kim combines extensive field-work with diverse literary sources to thoroughly explore some problematic issues.
$60.00
ISBN: 9788124600825
Year Of Publication: 1997
Edition: 1st
Pages : xxx, 385
Bibliographic Details : 241 B/w Photographs; Glossary; Bibliography; Index
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 29 cm.
Weight: 1500
Maitreya is not just one of the myriad divinities of the Buddhist pantheon; he is revered by the devout as the Buddha of the fifth world cycle, the Ultimate Buddha, the Much-Awaited Deliverer, who (like Kalki a would-be incarnation of Visnu in Hinduism) will descend on the earth, in human form, sometime in the distant future and lead people to both enlightenment and the final nirvana. The cult of Maitreya, however, goes as far back as to the second century bc, and even beyond, when perhaps, his images, in varying anthropomorphic forms, came to be chiselled alongside the earliest sculptural representations of the Buddha and Boddhisattvas. Here is the first iconological study to exclusively focus on the Maitreya phenomenon in almost the whole range of Buddhist sculptural art. Exploring the historical evolution of the Maitreya cult, the book admirably highlights the different phases of Maitreya iconography with an in-depth analysis of the images from various regions of the Indian subcontinent Gandhara, Kashmir, Mathura, Sarnath, Nalanda, Orissa, Western Deccan and South India. Dr. Inchang Kim has skilfully combined his extensive fieldwork with diverse literary sources to contextually explore some of the problematic issues to their last thread like, for instance, the genesis of Maitreya cult, its nature in the pre-Christian era, and its role in Hinayana, Mahayana and Yogacara Buddhism. Also spelling out the symbolism of Maitreya iconography, the study specially underscores the iconographic attributes that help not only identify Maitreya, but also distinguish the Buddha of the Future from other Bodhisattvas. Together with a generous supplement of visual material comprising over 240 photographic reproductions with an extensive bibliography and index, the book is invaluable to art historians, connoisseurs/specialists of Buddhist sculptural art and scholars of Buddhist studies.
Forword
— by Prof. Lokesh Chandra
Preface
Abbreviations
List of Illustrations
1. Introduction
2. The Origin and Development of Maitreya Cult
The Origin of Maitreya Cult
The Legend of Maitreya
The Nature of Faith in Maitreya
3. The Origin and Development of Maitreya Image in Kushana Mathura
The Combined Image of Buddha and Bodhisattva
The Images of the Celestial Maitreya
The Controversies in Maitreya Iconography
4. The Origin and Development of Maitreya Iconography in Gandhara
The Representations of Maitreya on the Coins of Kanishka
The Combined Image of Buddha and Bodhisattva
Maitreya Images with Combination of Buddha, Bodhisattva and Ascetic Elements
The Ascetic Type of Maitreya Images
Controversies in the Iconography of Maitreya in Gandharan Art
5. The Evolution of Maitreya Iconography in Western Deccan
The Advent of New Maitreya Iconography in Gupta Domain
An Introduction to the Study of Maitreya Iconography in Western Deccan
Maitreya in the Group of Manushi Buddhas
The Early Phase in the Evolution of Maitreya Iconography in Western Deccan
The Middle Phase in the Evolution of Maitreya Iconography in Western Deccan
The Later Phase in the Evolution of Maitreya Iconography in Western Deccan
6. Maitreya Iconography under Tantrayana Buddhism
Maitreya Iconography in the Early Tantric Phase
Maitreya Iconography in the Mature Tantric Phase
Later Maitreya Iconography
7. Controversies in the Iconography of Maitreya
The Contemplating Bodhisattva
The Cross-Ankled Bodhisattva
Buddha in Pralambapadasana and Dharmacakra Pravartana Mudra
The Crowned Buddha
8. Conclusion
Visuals
Bibliography
Glossary
Index
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