Myanmar Buddhist Imagery — A Reference Book on Burmese Buddhist Art
Myanmar Buddhist Imagery by Denis Lepage is a comprehensive reference book devoted to the history and development of Buddhist art in Myanmar (Burma).
Based on more than 20 years of research into Burmese Buddhist sculpture, the book presents a large visual corpus of Buddha images from different historical periods and regional traditions of Myanmar.
A major visual reference on Burmese Buddhist sculpture
With 491 pages and more than 1,200 illustrations, Myanmar Buddhist Imagery allows collectors, researchers, museums and enthusiasts to compare Burmese Buddha images across different periods and artistic traditions.
The book examines important characteristics of Myanmar Buddhist sculpture, including:
facial features and proportions
body proportions and posture
robes and garment treatment
mudras and hand gestures
hairstyles and ushnisha
crowns and jewellery
casting and sculptural traditions
regional and historical variations
The book covers the development of Buddhist imagery in Myanmar from the early Pyu and Mon traditions through the Pagan period and the later artistic traditions of Ava, Shan regions, Toungoo and Konbaung Myanmar.
Photographs from Myanmar national collections
One of the important features of the book is its use of documented examples from Myanmar.
The research includes photographs of sculptures from Myanmar national collections, produced with the support of the Myanmar Department of Archaeology, as well as material from archaeological archives and private collections.
Section One was prepared with the support of U Win Maung, a renowned Myanmar scholar.
The book also draws on photographic and documentary material from important collections outside Myanmar, creating a broad visual corpus for the study and comparison of Burmese Buddhist sculpture.
For collectors and researchers of Burmese Buddhist art
Myanmar Buddhist Imagery was created to help readers identify and understand the characteristics of Burmese Buddhist sculpture.
Rather than focusing only on individual masterpieces, the book presents Buddhist images comparatively, allowing readers to observe how sculpture changed through time and across different regions of Myanmar.
It is particularly useful for:
collectors of Burmese Buddha statues
dealers and specialists in Asian art
researchers of Myanmar Buddhist art
museums and libraries
students of Southeast Asian Buddhist sculpture
anyone interested in antique Burmese Buddhist art
About the author
Denis Lepage has studied Burmese and Southeast Asian Buddhist art for more than 20 years. His research and professional experience focus particularly on the identification, classification and study of Buddhist sculpture from Myanmar, Thailand and neighbouring regions.
Myanmar Buddhist Imagery is the result of years of research, travel, photography and consultation with scholars and collections connected with Myanmar's Buddhist artistic heritage.
491 pages · 1,200+ illustrations · English language
A reference work for anyone interested in the history, identification and study of Burmese Buddhist sculpture.