Architects of Buddhist Leisure: Socially Disengaged Buddhism in Asia’s Museums, Monuments, and Amusement Parks (Contemporary Buddhism)

Synopsis

Buddhism, Often Described As An Austere Religion That Condemns Desire, Promotes Denial, And Idealizes The Contemplative Life, Actually Has A Thriving Leisure Culture In Asia. Creative Religious Improvisations Designed By Buddhists Have Been Produced Both Within And Outside Of Monasteries Across The Region?in Nepal, Japan, Korea, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, Laos, Thailand, And Vietnam. Justin Mcdaniel Looks At The Growth Of Asia?s Culture Of Buddhist Leisure?what He Calls ?socially Disengaged Buddhism??through A Study Of Architects Responsible For Monuments, Museums, Amusement Parks, And Other Sites. In Conversation With Noted Theorists Of Material And Visual Culture And Anthropologists Of Art, Mcdaniel Argues That Such Sites Highlight The Importance Of Public, Leisure, And Spectacle Culture From A Buddhist Perspective And Illustrate How ?secular? And ?religious,? ?public? And ?private,? Are In Many Ways False Binaries. Moreover, Places Like Lek Wiriyaphan?s Sanctuary Of Truth In Thailand, Su?i Tiên Amusement Park In Saigon, And Shi Fa Zhao?s Multilevel Museum/ritual Space/tea House In Singapore Reflect A Growing Buddhist Ecumenism Built Through Repetitive Affective Encounters Instead Of Didactic Sermons And Sectarian Developments. They Present Different Buddhist Traditions, Images, And Aesthetic Expressions As United But Not Uniform, Collected But Not Concise: Together They Form A Gathering, Not A Movement. Monuments And Metabolism: Kenzo Tange And The Attempts To Bring New Architecture To Buddhism's Oldest Site -- Ecumenical Parks And Cosmological Gardens: Braphai And Lek Wiriyaphan And Buddhist Spectacle Culture -- Buddhist Museums And Curio Cabinets: Shi Fa Zhao And Ecumenism Without An Agenda. Justin Thomas Mcdaniel. Includes Bilbiographical References (pages 205-214) And Index.