An indispensable introduction to the evolution of Buddhist imagery from its origins in India through its spread to China, Japan, and South Asia

For more than 2,000 years, works of art have been created to embody essential aspects of Buddhist thought, which developed and evolved as its practice spread from India to East Asia and beyond. This book introduces this complex visual tradition to a general audience by examining 54 seminal works. Beginning with the origins of representations of the Buddha in India, and moving on to address the development of Buddhist art as the religion spread across Asia, this book conveys how Buddhist philosophy affected artistic works and practice across cultural boundaries.