In the following investigation an attempt will be made to retrace this retrograde path and to determine some of the principal types, on the basis of the materials now accessible, and to analyse the component forms. For this reason — although the investigation only concerns ancient Indian art — we shall frequently have to go beyond India, especially with a view to determine the types; for Tibetan and Japanese forms present highly interesting develop ments of Indian models. As an aid to understanding the summary of the history of the Buddhist religion, the following chronological tablel may be found useful.