Papers by Christian Luczanits
The All-Knowing Buddha: A Secret Guide
"The All-Knowing Buddha: A Secret Guide” focuses on an extremely rare group of richly-de... more "The All-Knowing Buddha: A Secret Guide” focuses on an extremely rare group of richly-detailed album leaves which illustrate the visualization practice of Sarvavid Vairocana, the All-Knowing Buddha. This beautifully illustrated step-by-step visual guide provides a unique glimpse into Tibetan Buddhist meditation and ritual, normally instruction restricted to oral transmission by a teacher to his initiated disciple. These practices are usually not meant to be depicted and this is one of the only albums known to exist in which the meditative visualization process is spelled out visually. While the ritual narrative of these unusual paintings is Tibetan Buddhist in content they are expressed in a vivid Chinese aesthetic, a unique product of cultural translation through its Mongolian patrons. The album exemplifies rich patterns of cross-cultural exchange that characterized the Qing Empire. NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE DIGITAL ACCESS: https://issuu.com/rmanyc/docs/all_knowing_buddha_online
The monastic complex at Alchi, Ladakh, was most likely established sometime in the third quarter ... more The monastic complex at Alchi, Ladakh, was most likely established sometime in the third quarter ofthe twelfth century and underwent rapid development over the next century. TOday the complex houses five major temples and a number ofhistorically important painted stUpa (Tib. mchod rten), the majority ofwhich can be asSigned to the earliest phase ofbuilding in the complex. Through an interdisciplinary analysis ofthe complex, the interrelatiomhip ofthe different buildings becomes evident. While in some cases an investigation ofthe architectural development clarifies issues ofchronological succession and differences in the iconographicprogram, in other cases art historical analysis ofthe painted decoration in terms ofstyle, iconography and composition reveals the connectiom between the architecturalparts. Both approaches contribute to an understanding ofhow a particular structure was used. Such an analysis is also an indispemable toolfor planning comervation measures. Alchi Chokhor (ch...
Investigations of a Gandharan stucco head of the Buddha at the Victoria and Albert Museum (IM.3-1931)
Technè, 2020
In Die Welt Des Tibetischen Buddhismus, edited by Wulf Köpke, and Schmelz Bernd, 43–77. Hamburg: Museum für Völkerkunde Hamburg, 2005
Ein tibetischer Tempel ist voll von figurativen Darstellungen, Plastiken aus verschiedensten Mate... more Ein tibetischer Tempel ist voll von figurativen Darstellungen, Plastiken aus verschiedensten Materialien hinter dem Hauptaltar oder entlang den Wänden, sich über alle Wände ersteckende Malereien, Gehänge in Form von Rollbildern oder Textilien, Gravierungen in Stein und Bronze auf dem Altar und vieles andere mehr sind einer erstaunlich expressiven Vielfalt von Wesen gewidmet. Diese Figuren-mehrere Stockwerke hoch oder auch winzig klein-können meditative Ruhe und Frieden vermitteln, beunruhigen oder, durch ihren furchterregenden Ausdruck, gar Angst und Schrecken verbreiten. Sie sitzen oder stehen, einige sind Teil einer Gruppe, andere dominieren ihre Umgebung. Manche sind in sich gekehrt, andere wenden sich mit angsteinflössenden Grimassen dem Betrachter zu oder sind in rasender, sexueller Vereinigung entrückt. Manche der Figuren mögen sich wie ein Ei dem anderen gleichen, es dominiert aber immer deren Vielfalt und Vielgestaltigkeit. Diese Vielfalt mag aber nicht sofort ersichtlich sein, da die Figuren in der Dunkelheit des Raumes nicht alle sofort wahrgenommen werden und die Sinne zuerst von den Figuren größerer Ausmaße eingenommen werden, bei näherer Betrachtung wird sie aber offensichtlich und manchmal sogar als erdrückend empfunden. Die meisten dieser Wesen werden als Manifestation Buddhas und im erweiterten Sinn als Gottheiten bezeichnet. Allerdings umfassen
Review: Discoveries in Western Tibet and the Western Himalayas: Essays on History, Literature, Archaeology and Art. Piats 2003: Tibetan Studies: Proceedings of the Tenth Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Oxford, 2003. Brill’s Tibetan Studies Library, vol. 10/8 by Amy H...
The Wanla Bkra shis gsum brtsegs
A Note on Tholing Monastery
Inscriptions from the Tabo Main Temple. Texts and Translations
Ein Blick nach Osten, zur rezenten Erforschung früher tibetischer Kunst
Buddhism in a Cosmopolitan Environment: The Art of Gandhara
Orientations, Oct 1, 2008
On the Construction of Clay Sculptures in Tabo (Ta pho) Spiti (c. 1042 A.D.)
Orientations, 2011
T he arti c les in thi s iss ue s he d ne w li ght o n diverse ge nres of As ia n a rt. Chri stia... more T he arti c les in thi s iss ue s he d ne w li ght o n diverse ge nres of As ia n a rt. Chri stian Lu czanits presents hi s reading of th e fa med Lhasa Lukhang murals, captured in li fe -s ize di g ita l ima ges , o n v iew at th e Rubin ; Juh y un g Rhi inte rprets th e iconograph y of a well-known Ga ndharan ste le in the upcoming show at As ia Soc iety Mu seum . Will ow C hang re fl ects o n th e earl y bronze cul ture of Hunan in relati on to an ex hibition at China Institute Ga ll ery, w hil e C la ri ssa von Spee d e mo nstra tes th e hi sto ri cal a nd politica l s ig nifi ca nce o f C hin ese bro nzes , with refere nce to late Qing ca lli g raphe r a nd co ll ecto r Wu Dacheng. Beatrice Quette re vea ls exc iting new f indings o n Chinese cl o isonn e, th e topic of an ex hibition at th e Bard Graduate Center. Joe Ea rl e brings us up to date on deve lopm ents in contempora ry Ja pa nese a rt, as see n in an exhibition a t J a pan Soc iety Ga ll ery, w hil e N atas ha Re ichl e's di sc uss io n of a n ex hibition o f Ba lin ese devoti onal art at the AAM in San Franc isco marks the first of a series of exciting events comin g up at th e museum. In our intervi ew, we chat w ith Rob ert Y. C . Ho abo ut the wo rk of th e Ho Family Foundation. Reg in a Krahl pays tribute to Chinese art co nn o isseur Juli a n Thompso n. Pete r Burl eigh reviews Mary Shepherd Slusser's s tud y of Ne pa lese w ood c ar v in gs a nd Rac he l Mi c ha el v is its th e ex hibiti o n 'Cloud ed Moonli ght' in Macao . P rev iews of major events thi s spring and rev iews of autumn a uctions illustrate the stre ngth of th e market for Asian, especi all y Chinese, art. In the latest of our commentaries on the plight of Afghanistan's archaeo logical sites, Joani e Meharry reports on developments at MesAynak.
Review: Bühnemann, Gudrun. The Iconography of Hindu Tantric Deities. Vol. I: The Pantheon of the Mantramahodadhi – Vol. II: The Pantheons of the Prapañcasāra and the Śāradātilaka. Gonda Indolocical Studies IX. Groningen: Egbert Forsten, 2000/2001
The Early Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh Reconsidered
The Bodhisattva and the Future Buddha Maitreya
Discoveries in Western Tibet and the Western Himalayas: Essays on History, Literature, Archaeology and Art. Piats 2003: Tibetan Studies: Proceedings of the Tenth Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Oxford, 2003.(Book review)
The Journal of the American Oriental Society, Jul 1, 2009
The Development of the Alchi Temple Complex. An Interdisciplinary Approach
Tibetan Art and Architecture in Context. PIATS 2006: Tibetan Studies: Proceedings of the Eleventh Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Königswinter 2006
Uploads
Papers by Christian Luczanits