Doing History: Representations of the Buddha

1. Tracing change:What transformations in Buddhist belief and practice are disclosed in these images?
2. Identifying cultural adaptation: What evidence do these images provide about the blending of Buddhism into a variety of cultural settings?
3. Understanding the growth of Buddhism: What do these images suggest about the appeal of Buddhism to growing numbers of people across Asia?
4. Considering cultural boundaries: To what extent are these images meaningful to people outside the Buddhist tradition? In what ways do they speak to universal human needs or desires? What is specifically Buddhist or Asian about them?