Narrative Visions and Visual Narratives in Indian Buddhism

Naomi Appleton is Senior Lecturer in Asian Religions at the University of Edinburgh. Her primary research interest is the role of narrative in the construction, communication and challenge of religious ideas in early India, and she has published extensively on this area, including Jātaka Stories in Theravāda Buddhism (Ashgate 2010), Narrating Karma and Rebirth (CUP 2014), Shared Characters in Jain, Buddhist and Hindu Narrative (Routledge 2017), as well as translations of Buddhist narrative and numerous articles on related themes.

• Preface1. Setting the Scene: Verbal and Visual Narrative in Indian BuddhismNaomi AppletonPART I: VISUAL NARRATIVES2. Rethinking Chronology and Narrative Modes: The Case of Sanchi Stūpa 2Flavia Zaghet 3. The Power of Image and Imagery: Visualising the Divine and the Human in the Painted Narratives of AjantaMadhulika Reddy, University of Mumbai4. Visualizing a Teaching: Sermon Scenes in KuchaMonika Zin, Leipzig UniversityPART II: NARRATIVE NETWORKS5. Localizing Narrative through Image: The Nun Utpalavarṇā in a Stone Relief from KaushambiSonya Rhie Mace, Clevelenad Museum of Art6. Beyond Textual and Visual “Versions”: The Story Cluster of the Six-Tusked Elephant BodhisattvaNaomi Appleton and Chris Clark7. Interpretations and (Mis)understandings: Three Case Studies of Illustrations of the Buddha’s LifestoryJohn S. Strong, Bates College, MainePART III: NARRATIVE VISIONS8. The Buddha as Spiritual Sovereign: Narrative Figurations of Knowledge and PowerDavid Fiordalis, Linfield University, Oregon9. Seeing the Dharma: Narrative Darśan in the VimalakīrtinirdeśaNatalie Gummer, Beloit College, Wisconsin10. Making Senses of the Story: Narrative, Art and Affect in Ancient IndiaJonathan Walters, Whitman College, Washington