CHINESE BUDDHIST MONASTERIES: Their Plan and its Function as a Setting for Buddh by PRIP-MOLLER, J

Copenhagen & London 1937, Gads Forlag & Oxford University. 3/4 Vellum spine over green boards, large folio, 29 x 39.5 cm., bright clean solid, 396p., 4 large pocket plans, index chronology,365 fine full page photos. !RARE! FIRST EDITION A STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY: A major illustrated reference and scholarly resource for Buddhist: monasteries, priests, architecture, ritual objects, altars, statues and sculptures. * LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED: This work contains some 363 plans in color & b.w., many maps, priests, robes & costumes, Chinese character footnotes text in English, with some in both English and Chinese, hermits, some shown with primitive but highly effective martial arts for self-defense, monks &c. Wonderful rural settings for many temples, with superbly designed gardens, cremation ovens, funeral rites, monk students, pilgrims accommodations &c. * This work covers the typical Buddhist monastery & building history, layout, central axis, lateral groups, Hui Chu Ssu, Pao Hua Shan, Kiangasu. Ordination unit, its ceremonies and its development, monk's offices & daily life in the monasteries. A magnificent work, loaded with fine collotype photos and a profusion of color sketches. * RARITY: This 1937 FIRST EDITION seldom comes to market in "collector's condition" and complete with all pages, plates, photographs and charts. * Due to its highly esoteric nature, deluxe printing & binding it was likely done in a small, Limited Number of copies. It has and always will be exceptionally R A R E ! * Considered a scholarly and reliable work on the subject with detailed architectural drawings & stunning photographic illustrations. * THE AUTHOR: Prip-Moller [1889-1943] first came to China in 1921, and after studying Chinese in Peking worked in Mukden [Manchuria], as a consulting architect. The present work is the result of extensive researches undertaken between 1929 and 1933 and was first published in Copenhagen in 1937. * THE FIRST EDITION: The First Edition has always been the most desirable and Deluxe edition of the book. The reprints do not compare with the lovely typography, paper and meticulous binding of this edition ! * BINDING: The original First Edition was bound in genuine white vellum spine with gold lettering, and four matching vellum corners. The balance of the book was bound in heavy green boards, which are easily rubbed. Our copy is in "collector's condition" with no major rubbing, a few nearly invisible scuffs to the covers, else a sharp clean and lovely copy of a very RARE EDITION of this title. * .