With a Single Glance considers the visual culture of the Japanese esoteric Buddhist tradition; Mikkyo; at the time of its introduction to Japan early in the ninth century. Huge painted mandalas of assembled colorful divinities; hand-held gilt-bronze vajra; and statues on temple altars were more than ritual aids. Cynthea Bogel demonstrates that the visual and visionary impact of Mikkyo material culture was transformatory; not only to the adherent; but at a broad cultural level. Her finely crafted study illuminates the sea change marked by Mikkyo visuality in Japanese art history and suggests continuities with eighth-century Nara Buddhist forms of representation and praxis.The monks Kukai (774-835) and Saicho (767-822) each studied briefly in China. Kukai's Shingon teachings; and to a lesser extent the Tendai Lotus Esotericism formulated by Saicho; introduced to Japan new ritual practices; icons and worship spaces; and literally hundreds of new divinities.Bogel examines the visual components of Mikkyo through a huge range of sources on art and imagery; philosophy and critical theory; religious studies; cognitive science; cultural analysis; and ritual theory. She presents a framework for understanding the sectarian construction of Japanese Esoteric Buddhist art and doctrine and; for the first time; explores the cultural sources and representational practices that define Mikkyo visual culture.Even while Mikkyo enveloped many existing representational and ritual strategies; Bogel demonstrates that it required and fostered a new visionary and artistic means and a "logic of similarity" among imagery; ritual; and practitioner implicit in Mikkyo doctrine. Mikkyo altered the sensory apprehension of the Buddhist realm. Kukai wrote; "With a single glance [at the representations of the mandala divinities] one becomes a Buddha." The book ranges broadly across imagery; place; and time; allowing Buddhist icons and spaces to "look back" and return the viewer's glance; encouraging a historically specific understanding of the visual characteristics and visual efficacy of Mikkyo.
#1407667 in Books 1996-01-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x 1.00 x 5.98l; 1.40 #File Name: 0295975466448 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. My personal perspectiveBy Theodore KobernickOther reviewers have done a great job; so I will offer my personal perspective.This superb history is easy to read; very entertaining.We live in Vancouver; Washington; across the Columbia River from Portland; Oregon. I grew up in Philadelphia; immersed in American history and wonderful museums -- more of the same during undergrad. years near Chicago. When I came to Seattle in 1971; it seemed to me that the Pacific Northwest had no past worthy of the name "history". Of course there was the Lewis Clark expedition; but what else?My Dad was a Woody Guthrie fan: we often sang "Roll on Columbia" and "The Great Grand Coulee Dam" Well; within a year of getting to Seattle; I drove east to see that dam. Before getting anywhere near it we saw signs with "Columbia Reclamation". It was stunning to drive on a two lane country road; and see on the left a desert of volcanic rubble and sparse scrub vegetation. But on the right side of the road were green irrigated farm fields. Before and after. The dam itself was stunning. I had never seen anything to compare it to. Huge; massive! The trucks and cars of the dam workers looked like matchbox toys next to the dam. This was well before 9/11; so we enjoyed a full tour of the dam. Wow!Still; I failed to think of the dam in any historic sense.Forty (40) years later; having lived here in Vancouver twenty-one years; my neighbor loaned me Dietrich's book. It was so compelling that I bought my own copy.Dietrich completely changed my perspective regarding the history of the Northwest.I think "Northwest Passage: The Great Columbia River" should be required reading for all students (both youth and adult) who dwell near the Columbia; or in its vast basin. Highly desired reading for anyone living in Washington; Oregon and Idaho. Recommended reading for anyone interested in the history of the United States.Dietrich's book really comes alive when he tells about the people he met and interviewed -- farmers; engineers; dam workers; fisheries biologists; tug barge crews; and members of several Native American nations. This is in addition to his many fascinating stories of various historic personages and their deeds.A good read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Raises the question about whether progress is good or badBy CustomerA well-written book and full of interesting history. Also somewhat depressing; given the mistreatment of the river and the Native Americans who lived in the area. Raises the question about whether progress is good or bad.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An excellent history of the Pacific NorthwestBy HankAn excellent history of the Pacific Northwest. How the great passage was missed again and again; then "discovered" by a tyrannical ship captain who was then tricked by the native peoples who inhabited the area before his arrival.
