In The Transformation of Nature in Art, Ananda Coomaraswamy explains the theory behind medieval European and Asian art, especially art in India.
He further shows that both differ radically from post-Renaissanc.
The comparison with medieval European art in this respect is extremely illuminating.
The first principle of Asian art is that art does not exist for its own sake; it exists as means to religious conditions or experience.
He further supplements the Indian theory with that of the Chinese.
In The Transformation of Nature in Art, Ananda Coomaraswamy explains the theory behind medieval European and Asian art, especially art in India