Violence and Serenity: Late Buddhist Sculpture from Indonesia

Natasha Reichle

Published by University of Hawaii Press 2007

Violence and Serenity

Late Buddhist Sculpture from Indonesia

Natasha Reichle

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780824865474

Overview
Contents

About this book

The mention of Buddhism in Indonesia calls to mind for many people the Central Javanese monument of Borobudur, one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the world and the subject of extensive scholarly scrutiny. The neglect of scholarship on Buddhist art from later periods might lead one to assume that after the tenth century Buddhism had been completely eclipsed by the predominantly Hindu Eastern Javanese dynasties. Yet, as the works discussed here illustrate, extraordinary Buddhist images were still being produced as late as the fourteenth century. Violence and Serenity offers a close examination of some of the impressive works from East Java and Sumatra and explores their political and religious roles.

The number of clearly identifiable Buddhist works from the Singasari and Majapahit dynasties (1222–ca. 1520) is limited, yet existing examples are impressive. They demonstrate a remarkable level of craftsmanship and are exceptionally expressive, exhibiting a range of emotions from the ferocious to the serene. Following a brief discussion of the early history of Buddhism in Indonesia, Natasha Reichle focuses each chapter on a specific statue or group of statues and considers the larger issues evoked by the images. Through a rarely examined depiction of the last Singasari king, she explores the nature of religion in Java in the late thirteenth century and what we know about tantric practices and the syncretism of Hinduism and Buddhism. She reassesses the question of portraiture in ancient Javanese art while contemplating the famous Prajñāpāramitā from Singasari. Notions of kingship are discussed in light of a number of statues depicting the Buddhist deity Amoghapāśa and his attendants and the meanings of the Amoghapāśa maṇḍala. The final chapter examines the origins and significance of one of Indonesia’s most spectacular sculptures, a four-meter-high Buddhist bhairava (demon) discovered in West Sumatra.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
A Note On Spelling And Transliteration Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Rulers Of The Singasari And Majapahit Dynasties Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter One. The Development Of Buddhism In Sumatra And Java Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
Chapter Two. Joko Dolok And The Politics Of Royal Asceticism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
Chapter Three. Ideas Of Portraiture Prajñāpāramitā In Java And Sumatra Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	51
Chapter Four. The Many Roles Of The Amoghapāśa Mandala Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	85
Chapter Five. A Charnel House Of Images The Padang Lawas Heruka Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	133
Chapter Six. The National Museum’S Monumental Bhairava Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	167
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	211
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	217
Selected Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	259
Illustration Credits Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	277
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	279
About The Author Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	291

Language: English
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 302
Illustrations
- Other: 121 illus., 2 maps

eBook

Published: July 26, 2007
ISBN: 9780824865474