Book excerpt: "This basic dictionary of South and Southeast Asian art offers clear and concise explanations of hundreds of terms. With over 1,300 entries and 112 line illustrations, this volume makes a handy reference for anyone interested and engaged in South and Southeast Asia - travelers and residents, new students in the field, museum goers, and general readers. Explanations are succinct and easy to understand. Entries range from terms encountered in South and Southeast Asian history, religion, mythology, and literature, to those specific to art and architecture. Words are drawn from the diverse religious traditions of the region, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, and Taoism, and from the countries of the region, including Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam."--BOOK JACKET.