100 Buddhas in Chinese Buddhism

 By: ryan    7:57 PM  Religion - Buddhism   No comments

Title : 100 Buddhas in Chinese Buddhism
Author : Lu Yanguang
Publisher: AsiaPac Books

100 series art album by Lu Yanguang is the first successful full-scale attempt to depict historical and legendary Chinese characters in drawings.

In 100 Buddhas in Chinese Buddhism, Lu Yanguang traces the beginnings of Buddhism and how it spread from Central Asia and India to China 2,000 years ago.

Buddhism took on a Chinese flavour in the course of history and produced many outstanding figures such as Hui Neng, under whom Zen flourished, and Xuan Zang, a great travaller and translator of Buddhist textc. Boddhisatvas Avalokitesvara, who was originally in male form, became a female in China and was known as Guan Yin. Not suprisingly, this Boddhisatva of Compassion has become the most popular deity in Chinese.

Buddhism become so much a part of Chinese civilization that it was, together with Taoism and Confucianism, collectively called the "three philosophies" of the Chinese people.

This collection of Buddhist figures not only includes those who are revered for their contribution to China's civilization - Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha; Kumarajiva, a pioneer translator of Buddhist scriptures; Bodhidharma, whom introduced Zen to China but also those who spread Buddhism to Korea and japan.

Uniquely synthesized with the historical background as described by the niography, every figure in this album is brought about life and vitality, revealing the author's skill in Chinese figure painting using his own style of 'double-line sketch" to convey a sense of hazy beauty.

Full of artistic charm and appeal, this album server as a useful reference book on Chinese religious history as well as an excellent collector's item.
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I bought this book quite sometime ago. Bought it in one of the Popular Bookstore in Penang for RM39.90. A book from AsiaPac publishing. And to tell you, this book ain't really about 100 Buddhas, it includes Bodhisattva, Arahants and other great Buddha's diciples to make in till 100 figures.