Page 10 - Bonhams Presencer Buddhist Art Collection Oct. 2 2018
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THE PRESENCER COLLECTION
OF BUDDHIST ART
弗雷森勒佛教藝術收藏
Alain and Sheila Presencer’s early travels afforded them 得益於早期的遊歷經歷，愛倫及希拉弗雷森勒對於亞洲佛教的
a broader understanding of Buddhism in Asia than most 理解比多數西方人更為廣泛深刻。西方學術界往往更於重視佛
Westerners. Scholarship in the West now acknowledges that 教哲學而忽視其他方面，近來才逐步意識到其局限性。 然而
it has overemphasized Buddhism’s philosophy compared to 對於亞洲的各類佛教信徒而言，佛教涵蓋了祭儀、功德、朝
its other facets. For most Buddhists in Asia, including many 拜、以及法術。這裡的「法術」並非意指魔術師的娛賓伎倆，
that belong to its various intelligentsia, Buddhism is a religion 而是宗教中共有的一種信念 － 人們相信某些物品、場所甚至
of ritual, merit, pilgrimage, and magic. The term ‘magic’ here 聲音所蘊含的神聖力量可帶來福德，並且規範舉行的宗教儀式
is not meant derogatively to refer to a conjuror’s parlor tricks, 可產生實質性成效。愛倫及希拉多年來以全面性的方式研究佛
but the belief, common perhaps to all religions, that certain 教藝術，其收藏中不僅有財神、護法神，更有護身符、佛珠及
objects, places, even sounds, can contain a sacred power 各種法器，體現出其對藏傳佛教「法術」的關注與熱誠。
which one can benefit from, and that rituals, if performed
successfully, guarantee observable results. While taking an
encyclopedic approach to Buddhist art, conveying Alain and
Sheila’s own passionate journey, their collection celebrates this
magical aspect of Tibetan Buddhism in particular, represented
in the host of wealth deities, protectors, amulets, malas, and
potent ritual implements.
8 | BONHAMS
