Without aspiring to a comprehensive account of Buddhism, Teiser (Buddhist studies, Princeton U.) finds religious and political significance in the changing portrayals of the wheel of rebirth from western India in the fourth century CE through various Asian locations to Sichuan in the 13th century. Drawings, charts, maps, and color and monochrome photographs help him tell the story. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)