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Department of the History of Art and Archaeology

Esoteric Buddhist Art of South and Southeast Asia

Course Code:
15PARH057
Unit value:
0.5
Year of study:
Any
Taught in:
Term 1

In this course we look at the origins of Esoteric Buddhism in India and some of the key texts which underpinned this form of Buddhism throughout Asia. It also examines the iconic and architectural Buddhist platforms that mushroomed across Asia from the ninth century CE. We then visit the great temple complexes erected as ceremonial and ritual centres of Buddhist empires in Southeast Asia. The course therefore complements other MA History of Art courses which explore the Esoteric Buddhist architecture of Tibet and the Buddhist art of East Asia, as well as courses on the Indian Temple.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

  • Familiarity with the history of the expansion of the sacred art that embodied the fundamental ideas of Esoteric Buddhism and gave rise to ceremonial and ritual centres  across South and Southeast Asia from the eighth to the 13th centuries CE. 
  • An understanding of the political, religious and social contexts that generated the rich cultural heritage visible in the monumental temple sites that now attract millions of tourists. 
  •  A basic familiarity with the key pantheons embedded in the major texts that fuelled the success of this politicised form of Buddhism – Tattvasamgraha-tantra (STTS), Mahavairocana-sutra (MVS), Karandavyuha-sutra (KVS), Guhyasamaja-tantra (GST), Hevajra-tantra (HT).
  • An enhanced knowledge of the approaches and methods of the art historical discipline that has enabled scholars and connoisseurs to reconstruct the history of these societies from the material and textual record.
  •  Awareness of the resources available for future research and of the current trends in scholarship in exploring and understanding this cultural heritage.  


Method of assessment

5,000 word assignment (80% of mark), 1 slide test (20% of mark)

Suggested reading

  • Bernet Kempers, A.J. (1933) The bronzes of Nalanda and Hindu-Javanese art E.J. Brill, Leiden
    Chakrabarti, D. K., (1995:185-202) ‘Buddhist Sites across South Asia as influenced by Political and Economic Forces" World Archaeology, Vol. 27, No.2, Buddhist Archaeology (Oct. 1995)  URL http://www.jstor.org/stable/125081
  • Donaldson, T.E. (2001) Iconography of the Buddhist sculpture of Orissa Abhinav Publications New Dehli
  • Bunker, E. and Latchford,D. (2011) Khmer Bronze Masterpieces Chicago: Art Media Resources.
  • Davidson, R. (2002) Indian Esoteric Buddhism: a social history of the Tantric movement Columbia University Press, New York
  • Hock, N. (1987) Buddhist ideology and the scriptures of Ratnagiri, seventh through thirteenth centuries PhD Berkeley
  • Jacques, C. (2006) The Khmer Empire Trans. T. White, River Books, Bangkok
  • Jordaan, R. E. (1996) In praise of Prambanan Leiden, KITLV
  • Kinney, A. R. (2003) Worshipping Siva and Buddha: the temple art of East Java Univ. of Hawai’i Press, Honolulu
  • Linrothe, R. (1999) Ruthless compassion Serindia, London
  • O’Brien, K. (2008) Sutasoma: the ancient tale of a Buddha-Prince Orchid Press, Singapore
  • Pott, P.H. (1966) Yoga and Yantra: Their Interrelation and Their Significance for Indian Archaeology trans. R. Needham, Nijhoff, Hague
  • Rawson, P. (1973 revised 1978) The art of Tantra Thames & Hudson, London
  • Samuel, G. (2008) The Origins of Yoga and Tantra: Indic Religions to the 13th century CUP
  • Scheurleer, P. L. & Klokke, M. J. (1988) Divine Bronze: ancient Indonesian bronzes from A.D. 600-1600 E.J. Brill, Leiden
  • Sharrock, P.D. (2007:230-80) ‘The mystery of the face towers’ in Bayon, New Perspectives ed. Joyce Clark River Books, Bangkok
  • Sharrock, P.D. (2009: 49-64) ‘Hevajra at Banteay Chmar’ A curator’s choice: Essays in Honor of Hiram Woodward, Jr The Journal of the Walters Art Gallery
  • Sharrock, P.D. (2011) ‘Kirtipandita and the Tantras’ Udaya 10 Phnom Penh, New York
  • Snellgrove, D. (1959:204-18) ‘The notion of divine kingship in Tantric Buddhism’ The Sacral Kingship: contributions to the central theme of the VIIIth international congress for the history of religions (Rome, April 1955) vol. IV E.J. Brill, Leiden
  • Snellgrove, D. (1959) The Hevajra-Tantra, a critical study Oxford University Press London
  • Studholme, A. (2002) The origins of Om Manipadme Hūm SUNY, Albany
  • Woodward, H. (2004:329-54) ‘Esoteric Buddhism in Southeast Asia in the Light of Recent Scholarship’ Journal of Southeast Asian studies 35.2