Buddha of the future

by Nandana Cūṭivoṅgs

Focusing on an extraordinary eighth-century statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, excavated in north central Thailand in 1964, this volume provides an overview of Buddhist art in Southeast Asia from the seventh to ninth centuries. The large sculpture of Maitreya now in the collection of The Asia Society Galleries, New York, is reportedly one of a group of stunning bronzes excavated from the base of an abandoned temple in the village of Prakhon Chai in Thailand's Buriram Province. It is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest examples of the art of the region. The sculptures from Prakhon Chai - noted for their exquisite craftsmanship and their elegant physiques, relaxed poses, and scanty clothing and jewelry - raise challenging questions about style and iconography in the Buddhist art of Thailand and Cambodia. This volume, which documents an exhibition organized and circulated by The Asia Society Galleries, features an essay by Nandana Chutiwongs, a leading scholar of early