Cultural Intersections in Later Chinese Buddhism

Cultural Intersections in Later Chinese Buddhism

By Marsha Smith Weidner

Book Description

This scholarly exploration invites readers to discover Chinese Buddhism through a refreshingly expansive lens that extends far beyond traditional religious texts and monastic histories. Rather than confining itself to conventional scriptural analysis, this interdisciplinary collection examines how Buddhist practice and belief manifested across diverse cultural expressions from the Song dynasty through contemporary times.

The volume demonstrates how Buddhism permeated Chinese society through art, architecture, literature, and politics, revealing intricate networks of spiritual influence that shaped daily life for centuries. Contributors bring expertise from multiple fields, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives that illuminates Buddhism's cultural footprint in ways rarely explored together in a single work.

Readers will encounter fresh insights into gendered experiences of Buddhist life through poetry, discover connections between spiritual practice and architectural design, and explore how political forces shaped religious expression. The essays reveal Buddhism not as an isolated religious system, but as a dynamic force that intersected with virtually every aspect of Chinese cultural development.

This approach offers valuable perspective for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual traditions adapt and flourish within broader cultural contexts. By examining extracanonical materials and crossing traditional academic boundaries, the collection provides a more complete picture of how Buddhism lived and breathed within Chinese civilization, offering insights relevant to contemporary practitioners and scholars alike.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)

📄 Length: 234 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Bouddhisme et art
  • ✓ Explore Buddhistische Literatur
  • ✓ Explore Rituals & Practice
  • ✓ Understand Buddhist philosophy and practice
  • ✓ Explore Art and religion
  • ✓ Explore Buddhistische Kunst
  • ✓ Explore Aufsatzsammlung
  • ✓ Explore RELIGION

Topics Covered

Bouddhisme et art Buddhistische Literatur Rituals & Practice Buddhism Art and religion Buddhistische Kunst Aufsatzsammlung RELIGION Buddhism, china Buddhism and art

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