The four great temples : Buddhist archaeology, architecture, and icons of seventh-century Japan / Donald F. McCallum.

Main entry:

McCallum, Donald F. (Donald Fredrick), 1939-2013.

Title & Author:

The four great temples : Buddhist archaeology, architecture, and icons of seventh-century Japan / Donald F. McCallum.

Publication:

Description:

xvii, 328 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-318) and index.
Asukadera -- Kudara Ōdera -- Kawaradera -- Yakushiji.

Summary:

Few periods in Japanese history are more fascinating than the seventh century. This was the period when Buddhism experienced its initial flowering in the country and the time when Asukadera, Kudara Odera, Kawaradera, and Yakushiji (the "Four Great Temples" as they were called in ancient texts) were built. Despite their enormous historical importance, these structures have received only limited attention in Western literature, primarily because they are now ruins. Focus has been placed instead on Horyuji, a beautifully preserved structure, but not a key temple of the period. Donald McCallum seeks in this volume to restore the four great temples to their proper place in the history of Japanese Buddhism and Buddhist architecture. In his detailed analyses of each of the four temples, McCallum considers historiographical issues, settings and layouts, foundations, tiles, relics, and icons and allows readers to follow their chronological evolution. A key feature is the interweaving of archaeological and documentary data to clarify numerous historical problems that have until now resisted plausible solutions. Although the focus is on temples, the book looks at broader political and religious developments that serve as a context for the study.

Resources:
Table of contents
Book review (H-Net)

ISBN:

9780824831141 (hard cover ; alk. paper)
0824831144 (hard cover ; alk. paper)

Subject:

Buddhist antiquities Japan Asuka-mura Region.
Buddhist temples Japan Asuka-mura Region.
Buddhism Japan History To 794.
Bouddhisme Japon Histoire Jusqu'à 794.
11.93 Buddhism.
Antiquities
Buddhism
Buddhist antiquities
Buddhist temples
Buddhismus
Tempel
Tempels.
Bouwkunst.
Buddhistiska tempel Japan.
Arkeologi Japan.
Asuka-mura Region (Japan) Antiquities.
Japan
Japan Asuka-mura Region
Präfektur Nara
600-699

Form/genre:

History

Holdings:

Location: Library main 260069
Call No.: BIB 190976
Status: Available

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