Borobudur: Masterpiece in Stone: The History and Meaning Behind the World's Largest Buddhist Monument (Revised Third Edition) - Paperback

by John N. Miksic (Author), Anita Tranchini (Photographer)

"This is simply the best book ever written on the single largest Buddhist monument in the world" --Patricia Welch, author and lecturer on Asian art

Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world--a masterpiece containing thousands of intricately carved panels and sculptures blending Indian art with local Javanese culture. The panels retell the lives of the Buddhas along with dozens of other tales of worldly desire and the heroics feats of enlightened beings. After viewing these, visitors ascend to open terraces at the top to enjoy majestic vistas of the surrounding landscape--an experience designed to evoke the eternal bliss of Buddhist nirvana.

This book presents a detailed history of the monument as well as a description of its art and design. Author John Miksic recounts Borobudur's history from its construction in the 9th century to its rediscovery in the 19th century and multiple restorations by the Dutch colonial government, the Indonesian Government and UNESCO in the 20th century. Surveying ancient Javanese texts and contemporary scholarship, Miksic walks us through the temples main features, honing in on important details.

The book includes chapters on:

• History and Archaeology -- How Buddhism came to Indonesia, the monument's history and construction, and what it tells us about ancient Javanese society
• Architecture and Symbolism -- The unique design of the monument and how it was used in ancient times
• The Reliefs -- The fables and stories beautifully told in hundreds of artfully-carved panels lining Borobudur's lower terraces, including the Jataka tales, the Life of Gautama Buddha and the Gandavyuha tale

Borobudur: Masterpiece in Stone is sure to be treasured by anyone intending to visit Borobudur as well as all those with an interest in Buddhist art and history.

Author Biography

John N. Miksic is Professor Emeritus of Southeast Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. Since coming to the region in 1968, he has made significant contributions to Southeast Asian studies through his archaeological research, serving on numerous research and advisory boards. Most notably, his Fort Canning excavations in Singapore confirmed the existence of an important 14th century port city there, which led to significant revisions in the official histories of the island. He has also made major archaeological and historical contributions in Java and Sumatra, Cambodia and Myanmar. His book Singapore and The Silk Road of the Sea won the inaugural Singapore History Prize in 2018. Miksic holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MA and Ph.D. from Cornell University.