"[A] very inspiring contribution to our understanding of ecological art history from the perspective of Asian art. It should be read by anyone who is interested in the interrelationships among Buddhist studies, art history, and environmental humanities."
(H-Environment) "Sonya Lee's Temples in the Cliffside is a welcome addition to studies of the religious cliff sculpture of southwestern China."
(Journal of Chinese History) "[A] truly multidisciplinary work of scholarship that examines Buddhist art from intertwined technical, environmental, religious, historical, aesthetic, economic, and political perspectives...Temples in the Cliffside innovatively locates religious art within its historical, political, and natural landscapes to show how people have managed their relationships to nature, and nonhuman entities in general, in different contexts. At a time when floods will likely wash the Great Buddha's feet more and more frequently, thinking about art holistically and ecologically is particularly urgent."
(CAA Reviews) "Sonya Lee's superbly researched work has paid attention to the aesthetic and historical content of the monuments, but has also updated it by framing the events in the context of environment and sustainability which are very much part of our present time. This most original approach will inspire a younger generation of art historians. Lastly, her uncommon familiarity with all matters related to conservation and restoration have contributed to this groundbreaking book."
(Studies in Chinese Religions) "Sonya Lee's informative book adds another layer to the research on stone carvings in Sichuan and Chongqing: ecology and image-making."
(JAOS Journal of the American Oriental Society) "Lee presents exquisite photographs and data through long-term fieldwork and research, providing a significant reference for understanding the Buddhist cave art in Sìchuan."
(Religious Studies Review)
