What is a Buddhist monastery? We might define it as a long-term residence of monastics, whether monks or nuns, but even this basic definition fails to cover the whole Buddhist world. In all periods and regions, the architectural, social, and religious organization of Buddhist places of worship and monastic residence have varied considerably.

This collection is the result of an international research program conducted by the Bangkok branch of the Ecole francaise d'Extreme-Orient between 1997 and 2003. The simple and straightforward title belies the uniqueness of the work, for this is the only comprehensive study presenting a clear geographical and historical overview of Buddhist monasteries throughout Asia, especially Southeast Asia, and particularly in Thailand.

About the Author

Pierre Pichard, an architect with the Ecole francaise d'Extreme-Orient for over thirty years, has participated in conservation projects in Thailand, Burma, India, Bhutan, Laos and Vietnam. Francois Lagirarde is associate professor and researcher at the Ecole francaise d'Extreme-Orient in Paris and long-time resident of Thailand and Laos.

Book Information
ISBN 9786162150685
Author Pierre Pichard
Format Paperback
Page Count 442
Imprint Silkworm Books
Publisher Silkworm Books / Trasvin Publications LP
Weight(grams) 998g