"Long Roll of Buddhist Images" is hailed as the "Treasure of the Southern Heavens" and stands as the only surviving handscroll painting from the Dali Kingdom (937–1254), also known as the "Land of Mysterious Fragrance." Executed with meticulous coloring and gilding, the painting is predominantly Buddhist in theme yet encompasses a vast array of subjects. It resembles an illustrated encyclopedia documenting the history, religion, culture, and customs of the Dali Kingdom and its predecessor, the Nanzhao Kingdom, capturing the attention of generations of scholars. Their research has guided our understanding of the painting’s content and significance.

However, aside from ongoing scholarly debates regarding its precise date of creation, issues such as the ethnic background of the artist, the meaning of its iconography, its original appearance, its intended purpose, and its function remain subjects of differing interpretations. Many questions have yet to be conclusively resolved. The reasons for this lie in the painting’s rich content, complex religious symbolism, and the unique historical context of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms. Located between the Tang-Song dynasties, Tibet, and the states of Mainland Southeast Asia, and not far from India, these kingdoms drew from diverse Buddhist traditions. Moreover, Nanzhao-Dali Buddhism incorporated distinctive local religious elements, making it impossible to fully understand through the frameworks of Han Chinese, Indian, or Tibetan Buddhist systems alone.

In light of this, the author, Li Yumin, drawing on a wealth of visual materials—including ancient artworks and archaeological findings—accumulated through multiple field studies in southwestern China, approaches the painting from an art-historical perspective. By integrating interdisciplinary methodologies from philology, history, Buddhist studies, and cultural exchange history, Li delves deeply into the work, correcting errors and filling gaps in previous research. Through a comprehensive investigation of "Painted Images of the Brahmans," she not only unravels many of the mysteries surrounding the painting but also demonstrates, through this case study, that artworks and visual images serve as vital carriers of historical records and ideological expression. Especially for dynasties and regions like Nanzhao and Dali, where historical texts are scarce, the effective use of visual materials such as ancient art and archaeological artifacts represents a crucial pathway to overcoming research bottlenecks.

Text in traditional Chinese, profusely illustrated with color photos.

2023, Taiwan, Stone Press, softcover, 2 volumes in a slipcase, as new.