How the Buddha Became Chinese

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Summary

The origins of Buddhist devotional art can be traced to its roots in India, but images and doctrine were transmitted by monks as they travelled with merchant caravans across the dangerous deserts o...

The origins of Buddhist devotional art can be traced to its roots in India, but images and doctrine were transmitted by monks as they travelled with merchant caravans across the dangerous deserts of Central Asia on the ancient Silk Road. The image of the Buddha was transformed and assimilated in China as the foreign religion of Buddhism encountered the rich and potent traditions of the Chinese cosmological past. Susan Beningson explores the introduction of Buddhism into China, the evolution of the Buddha image, and how these images may have been used in ritual worship.

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