Tác giả: W. Vivian De Thabrew

Born in Sri Lanka, Vivian De Thabrew received his formal education at Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka and obtained his first and postgraduate degrees in the U.K. He has degrees in Pali and Sanskrit, Horticulture, Turf Culture and Library Studies. His experience in botany led him to investigate plants in tropical Asia, culminating in producing several books on aquatic plants and also turf culture. He has travelled in many South-east Asian countries, such as Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam, and has made a special study of Buddhist history, architecture and iconography of the two main schools of Buddhism, namely Theravada (Orthodox) and Mahayana (Ritualistic). His knowledge of the two ancient oriental classical languages has enabled him to understand the intricate, deeply philosophical and historical representations found in the paintings, architecture and sculptures of ancient monuments and the present-day monastic edifices of living Buddhism. He is at present preparing his next book, ‘Monuments and Temples of Orthodox Buddhism in Myanmar and Thailand’, the second in this series.