There is no one book that addresses Javanese iconography, especially so when we limit the period under consideration to only the Hindu-Buda period of Jawa. In order to gather a reasonable understanding of Javanese symbolism of the Early Classical Period, and the East Jawa period, you really need to cover an enormous amount of reading that encompasses the classic literary works, such as the Pararaton and the Mahabharata, standard historical and anthropological texts, and some popular literature . There will be a reasonably comprehensive bibliography available soon that will be of some assistance in finding the titles that need to be looked at.
In the mean time, here are few titles you may care to have a look at while you're waiting.
Bunce F.W., "Numbers, Their Iconographic Consideration in Hindu & Buddhist Practices", D.K.Printworld(P)Ltd., New Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-246-0201-8
Hooykaas C., "Religion in Bali", E.J.Brill, Leiden, 1973
Kinney Ann R. with Marijke J. Klokke, Lydia Kieven, "Worshipping Siva and Buddha, The Temple Art of East Java", University of Hawaii Press 2003, ISBN 0-8248-2779-1
Lovric Barbara , "Motifs and Images in a Ritual Drama: Their Mythic References and Metaphorical Truth", in The Australian Journal of Anthropology, Anthropological Society of New South Wales, Sydney, 1992 3:3, Special Issue 4.
Ramseyer Urs, "The Art and Culture of Bali", Schwabe & Co. AG, Verlag Basel, 2002, ISBN 3-7965-1886-9
|