Discovering Japan through recent art histories

Sherry Fowler’s books are brilliant, erudite examples of a recent genre in art historical studies. They go beyond recognizing the need to view sacred objects in a temple setting. The temple complex, the buildings that comprise it and the objects they contain, are situated within the sacred geography of the early state, the dynamics of ruling power, sectarian difference, and changing functions of Buddhism over time. Through literature, records, temple histories and records, and whatever else is available, they immerse Buddhist art objects into the societies and Buddhist practices to which they were central. They expand our knowledge of Buddhist art by bringing less familiar works to our attention, and by greatly extending our understanding of what Buddhist art objects mean. They take Buddhist art out of the museum and show us its significance in the lives of the people who worshipped them.