The Ohio State University The Department of History of Art The College of the Arts

John Huntington—Professor

231 Hayes Hall | (614) 688-8198 | (614) 292-4401 |

John Huntington

Professor Huntington's interest is Buddhist art and iconography throughout Asia and Indonesia. He is primarily interested in Buddhist soteriological methodologies and how they are communicated through the arts. By comparing canonical textual sources, commentarial literature and modern exegetical works an attempt is made to discover the historical development of iconographic systems of communication throughout the Buddhist world. Recently special emphasis has been placed on Himalayan and trans Himalayan Tantric methodologies and the social and cultural context of Buddhism in those regions. Recent field-work has taken place in Bangladesh and Nepal.


Publications

    Articles & Essays

  • "The Study of Himalayan Paintings: New Techniques and Tools," in Orientations, vol. 34:8 (October 2003) pp. 32–40 and 56–64 respectively
  • "Introduction [to the issue and to Nepalese Buddhist studies at OSU], "The Iconography of Svayambhu Mahachaitya: the Main Mandalas" (with Olivia Caldiera) Lain Singh Bangdel (1924–2002) in Orientations, vol. 33, n. 10, (Dec 2002), pp. 16, 16–23, & 60 respectively.
  • "A Case Study in Religious Continuity: The Nepal-Bengal Connection," in Orientations, vol. 32, N. 7 (Sept 2001) pp. 63–70. (Direct publication of a Fulbright Grant Research Project of 1994).
  • "The Buddhas of Bamiyan" In Archaeological Odyssey (July August 2001) pp. 35–39, 58
  • "The Study and Teaching of Buddhist Art and Iconography using Computer Technology." (Invited article) a special issue of The Pacific World: Journal of the institute of Buddhist Studies. March 1997
  • (With Dina Bangdel) "Recreating an Almost-Lost Subject in Newar Buddhist Art: The Svayambhu Jyotirupa," in Orientations, vol. 27:7 July/August 1996, pp. 45–50.
  • "The Lomas Risi Visualization Project," in anon. The Processing of Perception, Columbus, The Ohio State University Presses, 1995, pp. 18–19.
  • "The Iconography of Borobudur revisited: The Concepts of Slesha (Multivalent Symbology) and the Sarava[buddha]kaya as Applied to the remaining Problems." in Klokke, Marijke and Pauline Lungsingh Scheurleer, eds., Ancient Indonesian Sculpture. Leiden, KITLV press, 1994, pp. 133–153.
  • "A Re-examination of a Kanishka Period Tetradrachm Coin Type with an Image of Metrago/Maitreya on the Reverse (Gφbl 793. 1) and a Brief Notice on the Importance of the Inscription Relataive to Bactro-Gandharan Buddhist Iconography of the Period." The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 16:2 (1993).
  • (With Susan L. Huntington) "Leaves from the Bodhi Tree: The Art of Pala India (8th-12th Centuries) and its International Legacy," in Orientations, vol. 20, no. 10 (October 1989), pp. 26–46.
  • "Mathura Evidence for the Early Teachings of Mahayana," in Mathura: The Cultural Heritage, Edited by Doris M. Srinivasan, American Institute of Indian Studies, New Dehli, 1989, pp. 85–95.
  • "A Section of an Early Portable Shrine from Gandhara," in Indological Studies: Prof. D. C. Sircar Commemoration volume., edited by S. K. Maity and Upendra Thakur, New Delhi, Abhinav Publications, 1988.
  • "Pilgrimage as Image: the Cult of the Ashtamahapratiharya," part II, in Orientations, vol. 18, no. 8 (August 1987), pp. 56–68.
  • "Pilgrimage as Image: the Cult of the Ashtamahapratiharya," part I, in Orientations, vol. 18, no. 4 (April 1987), pp. 55–63.
  • "A Note on a Chinese Text Demonstrating the Earliness of Tantra," in The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 10:2, (1987), pp. 88–98.
  • "Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus: A Journey to the Great Pilgrimage Sites of Buddhism," part V [Kushinagara, Appendices and Notes], in Orientations, vol. 17, no. 9 (Sept. 1986), pp. 46–58.
  • "The Iconography of the Tan-yao Caves, Yungang," in Oriental Art, n. s. vol. xxxii:2 (Summer 1986), pp. 142–160. [Winner of the Bluett Centenary Award competition]
  • "Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus: A Journey to the Great Pilgrimage Sites of Buddhism," part IV [Vaishali and Rajagriha], in Orientations, vol. 17, no. 6 (Jul. 1986), pp. 28–40.
  • "Notes on the Iconography and Iconology of the Paro Tseche Festival Giant Thang-ka," in Orientations, vol. 17, no. 6 (Jul. 1986), pp. 51–57, 74.
  • "Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus: A Journey to the Great Pilgrimage Sites of Buddhism," part III [Shravasti and Sankasya], in Orientations, vol. 17, no. 3 (Mar. 1986), pp. 32–46.
  • "Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus: A Journey to the Great Pilgrimage Sites of Buddhism," part II [Rishipatana Mrigadεva], in Orientations, vol. 17, no. 2(Feb. 1986), pp. 28–43.
  • "A Note on a Buddha Image from China Dated to the Year 36 of the Pre-Christian Era (Former Han, Chien Chao 3rd Year)," in Lalit Kala, vol 22, n. d. (1986), pp. 27–32.
  • "Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus: A Journey to the Great Pilgrimage Sites of Buddhism," part I [Lumbini and Bodhgaya], in Orientations, vol. 16, no. 11 (Nov. 1985), pp. 46–61.
  • "The Images of the Cult of the Brihad Buddha," in In the Arts (house organ of The College of the Arts, The Ohio State University), vol. VI (Oct. 1985), pp. 6–11.
  • "The Origin of the Buddha Image: Early Image Traditions and the Concept of Buddhadarshanapunya," in Studies in Buddhist Art of South Asia, edited by A. K. Narain, Delhi, 1985, pp. 23–58.
  • "The Iconography and Iconology of Maitreya Images in Gandhara," in Journal of Central Asia, vol. VII:1 (July 1984), pp. 133–179.
  • "Three Essays on Himalayan Metal Images in the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection:" 1. "On the Question of Stylistic Sources and their Local Interpretation in Western Tibet;" 2. "Bodhisattvas in Kashmiri and Nepali Interpretations;" 3. "Depicting the Unseeable: A Problem in Kashmiri Iconology," In Apollo, vol. CXVIII, no. 261 (Nov. 1983), pp. 416–425.
  • "Cave Six at Aurangabad: A Tantrayana Monument?" in Kaladarshana: American Studies in the Art of India, edited by Joanna G. Williams, New Delhi, etc., 1981, pp. 47–55.
  • A Gandharan Image of Amitabha's Sukhavati in Annali del 'Istituto oriental di Napoli, vol 40 (New Series, vol. XXX) (1980), pp. 651–672.
  • "The Iconography of Sanchi Stupa I," in Gesar, Winter issue 1980, pp. 10–12.
  • "The Lomas Rishi: Another Look," in Archives of Asian Art, vol. XXVIII (1974–75), pp. 34–56.
  • "The Tendai Iconographic Model Book Shosonzuzo, Dated 1858," in Studies in Indo-Asian Art and Culture, vol. 4 (1975), pp. 121–424.
  • "Iconography of Evil Deities in Tibet," in Studies in Indo-Asian Art and Culture, vol. 3 (1973), pp. 55–75.
  • "Avalokiteshvara and the Namaskara-mudra in Gandhara," in Studies in Indo-Asian Art and Culture, vol. 1 (1972), pp. 91–100.
  • "Gu-ge bris: A Stylistic Amalgam," in Aspects of Indian Art, edited by P. Pal, Leiden, 1972, pp. 105–117.
  • "The Technique of Tibetan Painting," in Studies in Conservation, vol. 15 (1970), pp. 122–133.
  • "The Iconography and Structure of the Mountings of Tibetan Paintings," in Studies in Conservation, vol. 15 (1970), pp. 190–205.
  • "On the Conservation of Tibetan Thang-kas," in Studies in Conservation, vol. 14 (1969), pp. 152–54.
  • "Rebirth in Amitabha's Sukhavati," in The Pure Land Tradition: History and Development, edited by James Foard and Michael Solomon, and Richard K. Payne Berkeley Buddhist Studies Series, 1966, pp. 43–105.
  • "Introduction"
  • "Popular Buddhism in Tibet"
  • "Tantric or Yogic Buddhism: the Inner Being and the Methodology of Salvation"
  • "Vajrasattva, the Practitioner as Adamantine Being"
  • "Adi Buddha: The Definition of "Highest" Buddha-Nature"
  • "Early Painting and the Bengal connection"
  • "A Note of Cave 17, 'the Library" or Hong Bian's Reliquary Chamber," in Ars Orientalis, vol. XVI, pp. 93–101.
  • Articles in William M. Johnston, ed., Encyclopedia of Monasticism: two vols., Chicago and London, Fitzroy and Dearborn publishers, 2000. (With Chaya Chandrasekhar) "Buddhist Monasteries in Southern Asia," I:55–66; "Mandala," II: 808–815; "Mount Meru," II: 895–901 "Stupa," II: 1204–1212

    • Books, Edited Volumes, & Exhibition Catalogues

  • The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art, Chicago, Serindia and Columbus, (Co-curator and co-author with Dina Bangdel), The Columbus Museum of Art, 2003
  • The Little Monk Meditates, New York, Weatherhill, Inc. 1995 (Drawing, and text by JCH)
  • The Phur-pa: Tibetan Ritual Daggers, Artibus Asiae Supplementum, vol. XXXIII, Ascona, 1975
  • Oceanic Art, exhibition catalog, Fullerton, California, 1966.

    • Other

  • Mirrors of the Heart Mind: The Rezk Collection of Tibetan Art from the Permanent collection of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Posted June 1998 at: http://kaladarshan. arts. ohio-state. edu/exhib/sama/samaintr. html
  • Exhibition: The Art of Doshu Kanayama. Set up in 1998. http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/exhib/kaney/pgs/kaneintr.html
  • Lost and Stolen Images of Afghanistan, Set up in 1997 http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/loststolen/Afghan/glass/A1002m.html
  • Nepalese Buddhist Art. Set up in 1997. http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/Nepal/nepal.html
  • Maps of Asia (all original drawings) http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/maps/mapindex.html
  • Chinese Buddhist Art http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/China/Chnhp.html

Seminars, Lectures & Presentations

    Seminars

  • Preparation of the "Mirrors of the Heart Mind" exhibition and catalogue for the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (Opened Spring of 1998)
  • Nepalese Bahal Architecture: A study of the major Bahals of the Kathmandu Valley and their Architectural Iconography
  • Sacred Space in Buddhist art and Architecture
  • Nepalese Buddhist Iconography based on the collection of Manuscripts in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
  • Early Symbols and Symbolism in Indian Buddhist Art
  • Preparation of the Catalog for the exhibition "Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art"
  • Museum practices developing didactics, educational materials and labels for the "Circle of Bliss" exhibition

Professional Activities

    Curated Exhibitions

  • The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, October 6 to December 31, 2003 and Columbus Museum of Art, February 6 to May 15, 2004
  • Selections From The Huntington Archive, University of Oklahoma, March and April 1997.
  • The Lomas Risi Visualization Project, Exhibited in The Processing of Perception. (Jointly With Peter Hriso and Wen-Hwa Seun) Cosi, The King Arts Complex and The Wexner Center For The Arts, 6 April Through 30 April 1995
  • Leaves From The Bodhi-Tree: The Art of Pala India and Its Influence Abroad (Co-Curator With Susan L, Huntington). November 1989 Through December 1990. Guest Curators For The Dayton Art Institute. Exhibited At Dayton Art Institute, Walters Art Gallery Baltimore, The Newark Museum, Newark (N. J.), Cook Museum, University of Chicago, Chicago.
  • The Flowering of The Lotus: Buddhist Art in India, a Festival of India-Affiliated Exhibition That Was Shown At: 1. The University of Chicago, October 1985. 2. The University of Wisconsin, November 1985. 3. The Missouri Historical Society Under The Sponsorship of The Washington University and The Asian Art Society of St. Louis, St. Louis, March 1986. 4. The Ohio State University, April 1986.
  • The Lotus in Full Bloom: Photographs by John C. and Susan L. Huntington, For The Annual Meeting of The International Association For Buddhist Studies, Madison, Wisconsin, 7—9 August 1981.
  • Buddhist Art: Selections From The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Photographic Archive, For The Annual Meeting of The American Oriental Society, Columbus, Ohio, April, 1975.
  • Buddhist Art: Selections From The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Photographic Archive, The Ohio State University, December, 1970.
  • (Contributor to) The Art of The Indian Subcontinent, Principal Organizer, J. Le Roy Davidson, University of California at Los Angeles, Spring 1968. For Catalog see Publication Ii. 1
  • Oceanic Art, Department of Art, Californian State College (Now University) At Fullerton, Fall 1966.
  • Jch Was The Organizing Curator and Subsequently Co-Curator (With Dina Bangdel) Project Involved 20 Students From The Osu Art History Program in Writing Sections For The Catalog.

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