[ Buddhism - Shingon ] SNODGRASS, Adrian.

The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism. Volume 1. Prolegomenon, the Two Mandalas, the Matrix Mandala [&] Volume 2, The Matrix Mandala, The Diamond World Mandala, Appendices (2 Volume Set).

New Delhi: Rakesh Goel for Aditya Prakashan, 1988. First Edition. Hardcover. Two volumes. Large Quartos (11 1/4 x 9 inches( Vol. 1: (xxiv) + 1-453pp., Vol. 2: (xxii) + 454-842pp. Green faux leather with gilt titling to spines and front covers. Black and white line drawings. From the publisher: "'The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism' surveys and re-interprets the vast work of traditional and modern Japanese scholarship on the Twin Mandalas. Adrian Snodgrass of the University of Sydney (Australia) has spent several years to detail the iconography of each and every deity of these two Mandalas as well as to bring out their traditional symbolism that reflects the Tantric thought in its earliest phases. Tantrism or Mantrayana reached China and Japan earlier than it did in Tibet. Hence the great importance of Shingon, as Japanese Matrayana is known, for the history of Tantras and the earlier foundations of this philosophical system that blossomed into the overflow of art in Japan and Tibet, where it flourishes to this day.
The book presents the theories and practices connected with the two Mandalas as followed by the Shingon Sadhakas. It translates and paraphrases materials from three primary and three secondary sources: the Mahavairocana-sutra (Dainichikyo), the Vajra-Sekhara-Sutra (Kongochokyo), Subhakarasimha's (Zemmui's) Dainichikyosho ("Commentary on the Mahavairocana-sutra"), the Mikkyo-daijiten ("A Dictionary of Esoteric Buddhism"), the Bukkyo-daijiten ("A Dictionary of Buddhism") and Toganoo Shoun's Mandara no Kenkyu ("Studies in the Mandala").
The study has four parts:
Part 1. The first locates the two Mandalas in the theoretical and practical setting of esoteric Buddhism. It discusses some of the principal features of Shingon doctrine and ritual; it describes two important rituals as examples of esoteric Buddhist practice; it examines the Homa rituals, the performance of which is the main practice of the sect and recurrently referred to in the literature dealing with the two Mandalas; and it gives a brief description of Buddhist cosmology, necessary for an understanding of the cosmological references in the Mandalas.
Part 2. The second part of the study looks at several general considerations concerning the two Mandalas; their transmission, the meaning of the term Mandala and the relation of the two Mandalas to each other.
Part 3. The third part looks at the meanings of the Matrix Mandala and its several mansions.
Part 4. This analyses the diamond world Mandala and its nine assemblies."
A hint of bruising to the corners of the boards, small, inoffensive, inked owner's name and acquisition date in upper margin of front pastedown of each volume. Otherwise a tight, clean VG+ set in VG + dust jackets (the jackets show just a little light shelfwear and some tiny chips to the edges. Now protected by removable mylar sleeves). A large, heavy set will require additional shipping to that automatically quoted, cost varying according to destination. Item #69898
ISBN: 8185179271

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