Authentic Replicas: Buddhist Art in Medieval China by Shen, Hsueh-Man

Authentic Replicas: Buddhist Art in Medieval China

As belief in the Buddha grew and his teachings were transmitted across Asia, Buddhist images, scriptures, and...
€153,02 EUR
€153,02 EUR
SKU: 9780824867058
Product Type: Books
Please hurry! Only 0 left in stock
Author: Hsueh-Man Shen
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: €153,02
10 customers are viewing this product
Authentic Replicas: Buddhist Art in Medieval China by Shen, Hsueh-Man

Authentic Replicas: Buddhist Art in Medieval China

€153,02

Authentic Replicas: Buddhist Art in Medieval China

€153,02
Author: Hsueh-Man Shen
Format: Hardcover
Language: English

As belief in the Buddha grew and his teachings were transmitted across Asia, Buddhist images, scriptures, and relics were duplicated and reduplicated to satisfy the needs of increasing numbers of the faithful. Yet how were these countless copies of sacred objects able to retain their authenticity and efficacy? Authentic Replicas explores how Buddhists in medieval China (seventh to twelfth centuries) solved this conundrum through the use of traditional methods of replication such as stamping, mold casting, and woodblock printing to create objects that fulfilled the spiritual aspirations of those who possessed them. Setting aside Western notions about the relative value of copies versus the "original," the book posits Buddhist ideas on what imbues an object with credibility and authority and offers fresh insights into the ways authenticity was represented and reproduced in the Chinese Buddhist context.

Each section of the volume focuses on an area of artistic output to provide readers with a thorough grasp of the theological concepts underpinning each act of duplication. Part I looks at the replication of sutras to clarify how the spiritual value of a handwritten sutra differed from a printed one. In Part II, clay tablets, woodblock prints, silk paintings, and cave murals are examined to trace iconographic lineages and uncover the divine identity in each new replica. The chapters in Part III describe in detail the copying of the Buddha's bodily relics and the endlessly repeated votive act of burying these in stupas. Of particular significance is the visual and textual vocabulary used on reliquaries to persuade adherents to believe in the actual presence of the Buddha concealed inside.

Deftly weaving together data and research from several disciplines, including Buddhist studies, archaeology, and art history, Authentic Replicas vividly conveys how replication lay at the heart of Buddhist worship in medieval China, offering a new understanding of how religious belief guided the artistic output of an entire age.

Author: Hsueh-Man Shen
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Published: 10/31/2018
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.20lbs
Size: 10.10h x 7.20w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780824867058


Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2019

About the Author
Hsueh-man Shen is associate professor: Ehrenkranz Chair in World Art at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.


This title is only available via back order

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Related Products

Recently Viewed Products