Paths to Perfection

A guide to the Freer/Sackler's richly diverse collection of Buddhist art from Japan, China, and Korea, as well as Indian/South Asia.

Paths to Perfection: Buddhist Art at the Freer Sackler introduces readers to Buddhist art through the celebrated collections of the Smithsonian's museum of Asian art in Washington, DC. Written for a general audience, the guidebook shares Buddhist art and its history across cultures, from the origins of Buddhism in India to its spread eastward to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

More than a hundred objects from the renowned Freer Sackler collections follow, each with a full-colour image and description. Entries are divided by type into five sections: buddhas, bodhisattvas, mandalas and ritual objects, teachers and teachings, and attendants and protectors. A map and glossary help familiarise readers with significant Buddhist sites and terms. Part of an ongoing series of guidebooks that explore the Freer|Sackler's collection areas, Paths to Perfection is an insightful look at artistic responses to one of the world’s great religions.

Book Features:

• Offers an accessible overview of the diversity and complexity of Buddhism and its art
• An insightful look at artistic responses to one of the world’s great religions.
• Objects are organized by type rather than region, highlighting transregional similarities and inviting comparison.

About the Author

Debra Diamond is the curator of South and Southeast Asian art at the Freer|Sackler Museums.