Emerging from the Lotus: The Anatomy of Japanese Buddhist Statues and Temples Author: Japanese STUDIOWORK Studio Translator: Liu Chang Publisher: Nanhai Publishing Company

◎ Editor's Recommendation

★Visit 61 ancient temples in Japan and open up the Buddhist "universe" for you from the novel and mysterious perspective of your first visit to an ancient temple.

What are the rules for visiting a temple? What Buddha is the statue in front of you? Which Bodhisattva should I worship to pass my exam? Do I still have a chance to be reborn in the Pure Land? To understand the world of Buddha, start with this book!

★Come, come, let me introduce you to various gods and Buddhas - the Guanyin of Horyuji Temple is like the "Mona Lisa" of the Buddhist world, smiling forever; the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who saves sentient beings is cute and adorable, and has become a daily visual landscape; Ussama Myowang is enshrined in the bathroom, because "eating" and "going to the toilet" are both part of spiritual practice; Ashura was originally a bad boy, and it turns out that Buddha also has to go through self-growth...

Count the Buddha's identity and origin, his job responsibilities, understand his expression, and comprehend his state of mind. In fact, Buddha and humans have many things in common.

★Interesting hand-drawn illustrations + insightful text analysis, from the architectural elements and meanings of the temple, historical origins to the etiquette of visiting the temple, rich details are unfolded in a comic style.

★Temples and Buddha statues are not only precious cultural relics and works of art, but also records of the times and culture, presenting the cultural psychology of the Japanese from another perspective.

★A practical cultural travel guide that sorts out the temple's visiting information, route design, and makes it very convenient to check in.

◎ Introduction

Why do we have to kneel and worship Buddha?

Why is the ground of the temple simple and plain, but the patio is decorated with gold and splendor?

What are the different meanings of the Buddha’s different gestures and postures?

Why does walking into a temple and worshipping Buddha instantly make one feel as peaceful as the sea?

This book starts with a series of simple questions from the perspective of the first visit to a Japanese temple. From the prestigious Todaiji Temple and Horyuji Temple to the unique Daruma Temple and Kumano Cliff Buddha, you will visit large and small temples in Japan, observe the layout and design of temple buildings up close, appreciate the Buddha statues in different postures, understand the stories behind them, and enrich your cognition and feelings.

Temples connect the world of Buddha with the present world. Whether it is the method of worshipping, such as bowing, worshipping, or looking up at the Buddha statue, or the exquisite details of the temple architecture and Buddha statues, they all embody the wisdom and piety of the predecessors, and also embody the countless yearnings and wishes of the people.

STUDIOWORK（スタジオワーク）

The STUDIOWORK team was founded by a group of people who are interested in the ever-changing environment and scenery, but also have doubts in their hearts. They focus on field research and are committed to in-depth observation of various things in towns and villages, so as to discover new values, record them, and spread them.

There are 14 authors in total for this book, namely Yasuhiko Saishoji (chief editor), Katsuaki Nito, Akihiro Wada, Rie Ando, ​​Shin Inoue, Yumi Sakurai, Toshie Kuwahara, Akiko Itohiya, Ryoko Nishikori, Yuki Shiba, Yasushi Wada, Akiko Watanabe, Yosuke Nishio, and Tsuyoshi Wada. They all have a strong background in architecture and rich practical experience.

He is the author of books such as "Anatomy of Japanese Architecture", "Anatomy of Famous Places in Japan", and "I Love It! Tokyo Like This".