The Teeth And Claws Of The Buddha

Author : Mikael S. Adolphson
Publisher : University of Hawaii Press
Page : 233 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2007-02-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9780824865085

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The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha by Mikael S. Adolphson Pdf

Japan’s monastic warriors have fared poorly in comparison to the samurai, both in terms of historical reputation and representations in popular culture. Often maligned and criticized for their involvement in politics and other secular matters, they have been seen as figures separate from the larger military class. However, as Mikael Adolphson reveals in his comprehensive and authoritative examination of the social origins of the monastic forces, political conditions, and warfare practices of the Heian (794–1185) and Kamakura (1185–1333) eras, these "monk-warriors"(sôhei) were in reality inseparable from the warrior class. Their negative image, Adolphson argues, is a construct that grew out of artistic sources critical of the established temples from the fourteenth century on. In deconstructing the sôhei image and looking for clues as to the characteristics, role, and meaning of the monastic forces, The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha highlights the importance of historical circumstances; it also points to the fallacies of allowing later, especially modern, notions of religion to exert undue influence on interpretations of the past. It further suggests that, rather than constituting a separate category of violence, religious violence needs to be understood in its political, social, military, and ideological contexts.

Author : Mikael S. Adolphson
Publisher : University of Hawaii Press
Page : 234 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2007-02-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9780824831233

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The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha by Mikael S. Adolphson Pdf

Japan’s monastic warriors have fared poorly in comparison to the samurai, both in terms of historical reputation and representations in popular culture. Often maligned and criticized for their involvement in politics and other secular matters, they have been seen as figures separate from the larger military class. However, as Mikael Adolphson reveals in his comprehensive and authoritative examination of the social origins of the monastic forces, political conditions, and warfare practices of the Heian (794–1185) and Kamakura (1185–1333) eras, these "monk-warriors"(sôhei) were in reality inseparable from the warrior class. Their negative image, Adolphson argues, is a construct that grew out of artistic sources critical of the established temples from the fourteenth century on. In deconstructing the sôhei image and looking for clues as to the characteristics, role, and meaning of the monastic forces, The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha highlights the importance of historical circumstances; it also points to the fallacies of allowing later, especially modern, notions of religion to exert undue influence on interpretations of the past. It further suggests that, rather than constituting a separate category of violence, religious violence needs to be understood in its political, social, military, and ideological contexts.

Author : Stephen Turnbull
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 172 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2012-06-20
Category : History
ISBN : 9781782000105

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Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949–1603 by Stephen Turnbull Pdf

From the 10th to the mid-17th century, religious organisations played an important part in the social, political and military life in Japan. Known as sohei ('monk warriors') or yamabushi ('mountain warriors'), the warrior monks were anything but peaceful and meditative, and were a formidable enemy, armed with their distinctive, long-bladed naginata. The fortified cathedrals of the Ikko-ikki rivalled Samurai castles, and withstood long sieges. This title follows the daily life, training, motivation and combat experiences of the warrior monks from their first mention in AD 949 through to their suppression by the Shogunate in the years following the Sengoku-jidai period.

Author : Carl Olson
Publisher : Scarecrow Press
Page : 372 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2009-09-02
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780810870734

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The A to Z of Buddhism by Carl Olson Pdf

In the early 21st century, Buddhism has become ubiquitous in America and other western nations, moving beyond the original bodhi tree in India to become a major global religion. During its journey westward, it has changed, adapted to new cultures, and offered spiritual help to many people looking for answers to the problems of life. It is being studied in institutions of higher education, being practice by many people, and having its literature translated and published. The A to Z of Buddhism covers and clarifies Buddhist concepts, significant figures, movements, schools, places, activities, and periods. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary entries.

Author : Paul Williams
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 456 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2008-07-11
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781134250561

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Mahayana Buddhism by Paul Williams Pdf

Originating in India, Mahayana Buddhism spread across Asia, becoming the prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet and East Asia. Over the last twenty-five years Western interest in Mahayana has increased considerably, reflected both in the quantity of scholarly material produced and in the attraction of Westerners towards Tibetan Buddhism and Zen. Paul Williams’ Mahayana Buddhism is widely regarded as the standard introduction to the field, used internationally for teaching and research and has been translated into several European and Asian languages. This new edition has been fully revised throughout in the light of the wealth of new studies and focuses on the religion’s diversity and richness. It includes much more material on China and Japan, with appropriate reference to Nepal, and for students who wish to carry their study further there is a much-expanded bibliography and extensive footnotes and cross-referencing. Everyone studying this important tradition will find Williams’ book the ideal companion to their studies.

Author : Stephen D. Miller
Publisher : Cornell University Press
Page : 504 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2013-06-30
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781933947761

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The Wind from Vulture Peak by Stephen D. Miller Pdf

Author : Geoffrey C. Goble
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Page : 172 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2019-10-11
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781440864056

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The History of Buddhism by Geoffrey C. Goble Pdf

One of the world's most popular religions, Buddhism is also one of the most misunderstood. This reference overviews misconceptions related to Buddhism and reveals the truths behind the myths. Buddhism is practiced by millions of adherents around the world. Originating in ancient India, it spread throughout Asia and then to the West, and it exists in multiple traditions. Despite its popularity, it is also the subject of many misconceptions. This book examines those misconceptions along with the historical truths behind the myths. The book begins with an introduction that places Buddhism in its historical and cultural contexts. This is followed by chapters on particular erroneous beliefs related to the religion. Chapters explore whether Buddhism is a singular tradition, if it is a religion or a philosophical system, if it is rational and scientific, whether the Buddha was an ordinary human, and other topics. Each chapter summarizes the misconception and how it spread, along with what we now believe to be the underlying truth behind the falsehood. Quotations and excerpts from primary source documents provide evidence for the mistaken beliefs and the historical truths. The book closes with a selected, general bibliography.

Author : Carl Olson
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 419 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2021-07-15
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781538130247

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Historical Dictionary of Buddhism by Carl Olson Pdf

Moving beyond the original bodhi tree where the historical Buddha attained enlightenment, Buddhism spread throughout Asia and in more recent history has become ubiquitous in America and other Western nations as it marches into the status of a major global religion. During its history westward, it has changed, adapted to new cultures, and offered spiritual help to those looking for answers to the problems of life. Buddhism is studied in institutions of higher education, practice by many people worldwide, and its literature is translated in numerous languages. Historical Dictionary of Buddhism, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 900 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as complex theological concepts, significant practices, and basic writings and texts. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Buddhism.

Author : Morten Oxenboell
Publisher : University of Hawaii Press
Page : 212 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2018-05-31
Category : History
ISBN : 9780824875336

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Akutō and Rural Conflict in Medieval Japan by Morten Oxenboell Pdf

This volume offers the first in-depth analysis in English of an understudied phenomenon in medieval Japanese history: the so-called akutō (literally, “evil bands”). Employing chronicles, laws, and legal documents from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, as well as recent Japanese scholarship, Morten Oxenboell examines the significance of akutō in legal proceedings to provide a nuanced understanding of how rural communities organized for and engaged in violent conflicts. He deconstructs the image of akutō as instigators of violence by underlining the significance of the term as a rhetorical device used by litigants to voice their grievances in Kamakura legal proceedings. The many instances in which akutō appear offer a clear example of the ways in which the new legal vocabulary concealed realities behind rhetorical flourishes and narratives of violence and predation. Violence was certainly a part of the negotiation for rights and privileges in the estate system, and Oxenboell demonstrates how conflicts developed and were untangled by local actors, who were rarely given a voice in sources from this period. By peeling away the rhetoric, he presents us a unique view of rural populations organizing their communities in the face of violence, whether as victims of outside aggression or as aggressors themselves against landlords or neighbors. The book therefore goes beyond the usual focus on elites in medieval Japanese history by concentrating on local mobilization schemes and strategies, which were often framed and defamed by central elites. Rural residents, who could not rely on the authorities for protection, handled their own security concerns via complex social mechanisms that tied together locals and absentee landlords in an uneasy relationship of mutual dependency. By examining the fissures in this relationship—in the form of akutō complaints—Oxenboell shows that violent activism was part of the daily management of estates and that such conflicts do not indicate an absence of order but rather a system of checks and balances that helped create a vibrant society.

Author : Robert H. Scott,James McRae
Publisher : State University of New York Press
Page : 293 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2023-03-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781438492438

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Introduction to Buddhist East Asia by Robert H. Scott,James McRae Pdf

This anthology provides an accessible introduction to East Asian Buddhism, focusing specifically on China, Korea, and Japan. It begins with a detailed historical introduction that includes an overview of the development of the various schools of Buddhism in East Asia and traces the transmission of Buddhism from Northwest India to China in the first century CE, and then to Korea and Japan in the fourth and sixth centuries CE. The first part of the book contains five chapters that offer creative pedagogies that can help college professors infuse East Asian Buddhism into their courses. The second part includes six interdisciplinary chapters that explore thematic links between East Asian Buddhism and religious studies, philosophy, film studies, literature, and environmental studies.

Author : Jinhua Chen
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
Page : 275 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2024-02-08
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781003853534

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Esoteric Buddhism and Texts by Jinhua Chen Pdf

This book explores trans-cultural and cross-border transmission and transformation of Esoteric Buddhism in East Asia, focusing on its manuscript culture and the transborder transmission of Esoteric Buddhist texts. In East Asia, Esoteric Buddhism’s influences can be seen across all levels of society: not only in that it achieved a recognizable sectarian identity, but also because elements of esoteric teachings were absorbed by other religious schools, influencing their philosophical tenets and everyday practices. The influence was not confined to the religious sphere: scholars have been paying more and more attention to the significance of Tang Esoteric Buddhism in relation to material culture and the dissemination of Esoteric Buddhist technologies in South, Central, and East Asia. No matter how one looks at a maṇḍala—an integral feature of esoteric practice—or the uncannily expressive statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or Yidam that come in all shapes and sizes, or the murals that depict the variegated, mysterious themes of the esoteric tradition, one can always recognise the profound connection between art and Esoteric Buddhism. Esoteric Iifluences also abound in East Asian literature across different genres, displaying its unique characters both in poetry and prose. Likewise, in architecture, one can readily make out the enigmatic, colorful and distinctive elements characteristic of the esoteric tradition. Monks initiated into the esoteric lineages not only brought Buddhist classics and practices to China but also advanced knowledge in astronomy, calendarial calculations and mathematical theories. The chapters in this volume focus on two major aspects of textual Esoteric Buddhism—its manuscript culture and transborder transmission. This book will be beneficial to advanced students and researchers interested in Religious Studies, History and Buddhist studies. It was originally published as a special issue of Studies in Chinese Religions.

Author : Fabio Rambelli,Eric Reinders
Publisher : A&C Black
Page : 273 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2012-11-08
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781441145093

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Buddhism and Iconoclasm in East Asia by Fabio Rambelli,Eric Reinders Pdf

A study of Buddhism and iconoclasm in East Asia as part of a general theory of religious destruction.

Author : Joseph Gerson Da Cunha
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 112 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 1875
Category : Buddha (The concept)
ISBN : RMS:RMS1LSO$000002823$$$L

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Memoir on the History of the Tooth-relic of Ceylon by Joseph Gerson Da Cunha Pdf

Author : N. Harry Rothschild,Leslie V. Wallace
Publisher : University of Hawaii Press
Page : 289 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2018-10-31
Category : History
ISBN : 9780824867829

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Behaving Badly in Early and Medieval China by N. Harry Rothschild,Leslie V. Wallace Pdf

Behaving Badly in Early and Medieval China presents a rogues’ gallery of treacherous regicides, impious monks, cutthroat underlings, ill-bred offspring, and disloyal officials. It plumbs the dark matter of the human condition, placing front and center transgressive individuals and groups traditionally demonized by Confucian annalists and largely shunned by modern scholars. The work endeavors to apprehend the actions and motivations of these men and women, whose conduct deviated from normative social, cultural, and religious expectations. Early chapters examine how core Confucian bonds such as those between parents and children, and ruler and minister, were compromised, even severed. The living did not always reverently pay homage to the dead, children did not honor their parents with due filiality, a decorous distance was not necessarily observed between sons and stepmothers, and subjects often pursued their own interests before those of the ruler or the state. The elasticity of ritual and social norms is explored: Chapters on brazen Eastern Han (25–220) mourners and deviant calligraphers, audacious falconers, volatile Tang (618–907) Buddhist monks, and drunken Song (960–1279) literati reveal social norms treated not as universal truths but as debated questions of taste wherein political and social expedience both determined and highlighted individual roles within larger social structures and defined what was and was not aberrant. A Confucian predilection to “valorize [the] civil and disparage the martial” and Buddhist proscriptions on killing led literati and monks alike to condemn the cruelty and chaos of war. The book scrutinizes cultural attitudes toward military action and warfare, including those surrounding the bloody and capricious world of the Zuozhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), the relentless violence of the Five Dynasties and Ten States periods (907–979), and the exploits of Tang warrior priests—a series of studies that complicates the rhetoric by situating it within the turbulent realities of the times. By the end of this volume, readers will come away with the understanding that behaving badly in early and medieval China was not about morality but perspective, politics, and power.

Author : Charlene Burns
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Page : 165 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2008-07-25
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780742563438

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More moral than God by Charlene Burns Pdf

In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy recent political and religious conflicts, attention to religious violence has increased exponentially. Although violence in the name of religion has been around for centuries, there is increasing need to examine the roots of religious violence, with the hope of working for peace. In More Moral than God, Charlene Burns takes a unique look at the psychological motivations behind religious violence. Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and theology, Burns illuminates the interplay between our images of God, our individual egos, and our collective selves, and brings to light the degree to which each of us can and must take responsibility for the religious landscape. In addition to her own perspective on religious violence, Burns provides a brief history of religious violence and addresses other possible motivations, including politics, economics, globalization, family dynamics and more.