Archaeological and Visual Sources of Meditation in the Ancient Monasteries of Kuča 龜茲

Editors:
Angela F. Howard
Giuseppe Vignato

Publisher:
Brill

Publication Year:
2014

Abstract:

In Archaeological and Visual Sources of Meditation in the Ancient Monasteries of Kuča, Angela F. Howard and Giuseppe Vignato use diverse methodological approaches from archaeology, art history and religious studies to reconstruct monastic life and practices in the rock monasteries on the northern Silk Route (ca. 200-650). Analysis of the caves’ function, meditation manuals, and the cave murals highlights the centrality of meditation, a fundamental duty of Kuča monastics. This interdisciplinary study utilizes hitherto unpublished line drawings, maps, and photographs to reconstruct and interpret the architecture and décor of Kuča caves, thus revealing the close links between the spiritual and the physical, between doctrinal teaching and practice and the lay-out and décor of the monasteries.

Table of Contents:

The rock monasteries of ancient Kuča
Formative elements of rock monasteries of ancient Kuča
The visual language of meditation
The origin of the visual language