The Religious Traditions of Japan 500–1600

The first English-language overview of the interaction of Buddhism and Shint? in Japanese culture.

Richard Bowring (Author)

9780521720274, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 27 March 2008

502 pages, 34 b/w illus. 11 maps
22.8 x 15.2 x 3 cm, 0.8 kg

'… this volume offers much to both the novice student of Japanese Buddhism and the seasoned scholar.' James L. Ford, Monumenta Nipponica

Richard Bowring describes in outline the development of Japanese religious thought and practice from the introduction of writing to the point at which medieval attitudes gave way to a distinctive pre-modern culture, a change that brought an end to the dominance of religious institutions. A wide range of approaches using the resources of art, history, social and intellectual history, as well as doctrine is brought to bear on the subject. The result is as full a picture as possible of the richness of the Japanese tradition as it succeeded in holding together on the one hand Buddhism, with its sophisticated intellectual structures, and on the other hand the disparate local cults that eventually achieved a kind of unity under the rubric of Shint?. An understanding of this process of constant and at times difficult interaction is essential to a deeper appreciation of Japan's history and its cultural achievements.

Introduction
Part I. The Arrival of Buddhism and Its Effects (c.538–800): 1. The introduction of Buddhism
2. Creating a dynasty
3. Buddhism and the early state
4. Monuments at Nara
Part II. From Saich? to the Destruction of T?daiji (800–1180): 5. The beginnings of a 'Japanese' Buddhism: Tendai
6. The beginnings of a 'Japanese' Buddhism: Shingon
7. Buddhism and the state in Heian Japan
8. Shrine and state in Heian Japan
9. The rise of devotionalism
10. A time for strife
Part III. From the Destruction of T?daiji to the Fall of Godaigo (1180–1330): 11. For and against exclusive practice of the nenbutsu
12. Religious culture of the early 'middle ages'
13. Chan Buddhism
14. Zen Buddhism
15. Reform from within and without
16. The emergence of Shint?
17. Taking stock
Part IV. From the Fall of Godaigo to the Death of Nobunaga (1330–1582): 18. Two rival courts
19. Muromachi Zen
20. The end of the medieval
21. Appendix: reading Shingon's two mandala.

Subject Areas: Buddhism [HRE], History of religion [HRAX], Religion: general [HRA], Asian history [HBJF]