The Lotus Sutra, one of the principal scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism, has been a rich source of subjects and themes for Japanese artists. The 107 color plates in this elegant book, winner of a 1988 design award, reproduce outstanding works of art inspired by the sutra. Dating from the seventh through the sixteenth centuries, all these works are National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties of Japan. An informed text outlines the history and influence of the Lotus Sutra. Discussions of individual works elucidate both their significance and their place in Japanese art history. "Beautifully designed, impeccably edited. . . . As an art book it is among the best of the year.
