Buddhist Art Studies in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is one of the most complex and diverse areas of the world. It borders both India and China, which has reflected much of its culture and history. Many people, cultures, and religions have contributed to the diversity of the continent. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity from abroad were all impacted to different degrees by the local indigenous culture and religion. Buddhism in Southeast Asia dates back at least to the middle of the first millennium ce, which can be exemplified by archaeological reminds from, for example, the Puy culture of Śrī Kṣetra, Myanmar, and from that time, the tradition constantly underwent transformation and became adopted into local traditions and practices. Culture and religion are not timeless and unchanging but are embedded in a thick context of traditions and changes. The Buddhist tradition in Southeast Asia is obviously a part of the global Buddhist tradition, with roots from South Asia and China and home to many world-unique Buddhist sites and cultures, such as Bagan, Dvāravatī, Sukhothai, Luang Prabang, and Borobudur, just to mention the most known, but it is also embedded in pre-Buddhist local traditions. Southeast Asia is often divided between mainland and insular (maritime) Southeast Asia, with the Theravada Buddhist tradition predominant on the mainland. This is also reflected in this bibliography, but a section about Indonesia and Malaysia is included because there has also been a long history of Buddhism in insular Southeast Asia. Buddhist art studies are based on two partially opposing purposes. One purpose is based mainly on the aesthetics and artistic merits, which reflect a concept of art that has its roots in Europe: the study of Buddhist art for the art’s sake. The other is based on the conviction that art and sacred objects are involved in the beliefs and practices of Buddhism and uncover facts about history and society. Therefore, the study of Buddhist art and architecture is a lens for the sake of understanding Southeast Asian history, culture, and religion. However, these two purposes are often mixed. Buddhist art is closely connected to rituals and devotion. The making of merit is central to Buddhism. Buddha images and sacred buildings were made as gifts to the Buddhist order and as a way to legitimize power and express a Hindu-Buddhist worldview. Art in Southeast Asia was not seen as distinct from everyday life, performance, or craft until recently. Therefore, a section about art seen from a religious, historical, and social perspective and a section about craft, design, and material culture will be included in this bibliography.