Full Description
This exploration of the exceptional Buddhist stupa (reliquary mound) at Amarāvatī, one of ancient India's most extraordinary monuments, presents a fresh perspective on the rich visual culture of ancient South Asia viewed through the lens of art history, connecting the stupa's artistic innovations with advancements in Buddhist philosophy and rituals. Jaś Elsner offers new insights into early Buddhist art in South India, as well as a new understanding of the relationship between early Buddhism and its material culture. The excellent newly taken photographs, particularly those featuring objects from the British Museum in London, show in detail how the stupa communicated Buddhist teachings and practices to its followers, making this book an invaluable resource for students and scholars alike.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Part I: The Great Stupa at Amaravati
1 Approach and Circumambulation
2 The Inscriptions and Their Messages
Part II: Narrative Sculpture
3 Visual Storytelling and the Vision of Karma
Part III: The Wider Indian Context
4 Theatricality
5 Cosmography
Part IV: Icon and Replication
6 Buddhapada: Symbolism, Visual Epitome and the Creation of Icons
7 Systems of Representation
Conclusion
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
