Buddhist Monasticism in East Asia by Benn, James A.; Meeks, Lori; Robson, James;

Short description:

Taking into account the diverse religious, historical, social and cultural contexts within which they have existed, this book provides a multifaceted examination of Buddhist monasteries. Written by specialists in the study of monasteries and monastic practice in East Asia, it is a timely contribution on this aspect of Buddhist religious practice.

Long description:

The area of Buddhist monasticism has long attracted the interest of Buddhist studies scholars and historians, but the interpretation of the nature and function of monasteries across diverse cultures and vast historical periods remains a focus for debate. This book provides a multifaceted discussion of religious, social, cultural, artistic, and political functions of Buddhist monasteries in medieval China and Japan.

With contributions from leading scholars in the field, this volume explores the multiplicity of the institutions that make up "the Buddhist monastery." Drawing on new research and on previous studies hitherto not widely available in English, the chapters cover key issues such as the relationship between monastics and lay society, the meaning of monastic vows, how specific institutions functioned, and the differences between urban and regional monasteries. Collectively, the book demonstrates that medieval monasteries in East Asia were much more than merely residences for monks who, cut off from the dust and din of society and all its entrapments, collectively pursued an ideal cenobitic lifestyle.

Buddhist Monasticism in East Asia is a timely contribution to the ongoing attempts to understand a central facet of Buddhist religious practice, and will be a significant work for academics and students in the fields of Buddhist Studies, Asian Studies, and East Asian Religions.

"This book is a welcome addition to the growing corpus of studies focusing on Buddhist practice. It offers a timely description of the manifold contributions made by the Buddhist monastery as an institution in medieval China and Japan, and benefits its readers by helping them to understand the nature and function of such monasteries... This book offers a wealth of new research and careful considerations presented by leading scholars in the field... Not only will this book serve as a valuable resource for scholars and students, it will hopefully encourage further investigations into places of religious practice across cultures." - Pei-Yin Lin, Journal of Buddhist Ethics, Volume 18, 2011

"The volume aims to achieve a better understanding of social, ritual, educational, political, and economic dimensions of Eastern Buddhist monasticism... It has a comprehensive and up-to date bibliography. It is a useful contribution to the literature on Buddhist studies, monastic studies, and East Asian religions." - Chipamong Chowdhury, University of Toronto; Studies in Religion / Sciences Religieuses, SAGE 2012.

"This volume consists of seven articles by leading scholars, all thought-provoking and possessed of a methodological consciousness... This volume is very successful in fulfilling its set goal of studying Buddhist monasteries in East Asia as an institution deeply embedded in society. Additionally, Robson and Barrett, when reviewing current scholarship, each give us new directions and list important issues and themes awaiting further exploration." - Dewei Zhang, McMaster University; Pacific Affairs, Vol.86, No.1 2013.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Neither Too Far, Nor Too Near: The Historical and Cultural Contexts of Buddhist Monasteries in Medieval China and Japan James Robson  1. Taking a Meal at a Lay Supporter’s Residence: The Evolution of the Practice in Chinese Vinaya Commentaries Koichi Shinohara  2. Monastic Spaces and Sacred Traces: Facets of Chinese Buddhist Monastic Records James Robson  3. Pictorial Program in the Making of Monastic Space: From Jing’aisi of Luoyang to Cave 217 at Dunhuang  Eugene Wang  4. The Monastery Cat in Cross-cultural Perspective: Cat Poems of the Zen Masters T.H. Barrett  5. The Monastic Institution in Medieval Japan: The Insider’s View William Bodiford  6. Vows for the Masses: Eison and the Popular Expansion of Precept-Conferral Ceremonies in Premodern Japan Lori Meeks  7. Koen and the “Consecrated Ordination” Within Japanese Tendai Paul Groner