The Soul of Writing in Islam
February 1, 2024
I recently said that a lot of things in Islamic thought have deeper meanings than what you see on the surface. If you look
Indian Art’s Love of Abundance; It Ain’t Your Father’s Greek Temple
January 31, 2024
The above photo sure doesn’t look like an ancient Greek temple. Nor does it look like a Romanesque cathedral. Instead of focusing on the simplest
Northern Thai Temple Roofs; Meetings of Heaven and Earth
January 26, 2024
My favorite regional variety of Thai art is from the north. After the Thais threw off the Khmer yoke in the 13th century, a king
Thailand’s Phra Singh Buddha; One of Asia’s Greatest Art Works
January 25, 2024
The Kingdom of Lan Na emerged when the Thais liberated themselves from the Khmers in the 13th century. Lan Na thrived in northern Thailand, and
Northern Thai Architecture in Full Flight; It Ain’t No Angkor Wat
January 24, 2024
Chiang Mai’s Wat Phra Singh has some of the best examples of northern Thai architecture, so it was high on my list of places to
Power and Grace at Angkor Wat Part II; Exploring Its Inner Mysteries
January 22, 2024
In the last post, we walked towards Angkor Wat’s center and explored some of the carvings on its central section, beginning with the west wall.
Ultimate Expressions of Power and Grace at Angkor Wat
January 22, 2024
Angkor Wat was built in the early twelfth century–exactly when the French pioneered Gothic architecture in the Basilica of St. Denis. Europeans constructed towering naves and choirs
A Different Way to Think about Emotions in India
January 19, 2024
. Ancient Indians came up with a unique way of thinking about and classifying emotions. Absorption in the larger environment became central in
The Soft Side of the Spirit in Vietnam
January 15, 2024
Vietnamese religious traditions have had many personalities. Their soft sides inspired a lot of great art, which isn’t in any books I’ve seen. But
A Unique View of the Spirit in Vietnam
January 15, 2024
I’ve never seen these in any books about Asian art or Buddhist art. But I saw two especially common types of statue in several Vietnamese