The flow of Buddhist ideas and culture from India to China and their transmuting to fit within the Chinese spiritual dialogue is one of the greatest creative achievements in human history. The current volume explores these movements within the framework of different genres explaining in each study the Indic phenomena, the early Chinese integration and the promulgation with emphasis on the Chan and Pure Land traditions. The volume draws on Sanskrit, Pali, Chinese and Tibetan sources presenting information on some of the approaches used in making Buddhism a thoroughly Chinese transformative teaching. Topics include Historiography, the notion of "Self", magical Dances, Buddha Play, painted Art, Early Chan, Praxis and Eschatology and a Conclusion. Each chapter presents new information and/or perspectives on the above subjects. Extensive Notes, Bibliography, and an Index are also found.
Sinicizing Buddhism: Studies in Doctrine, Practice, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, A.W. Barber, Vogelstein Press, Paperback, 310 pp, $20.99
A.W. Barber is an Associate Professor researching in Buddhist culture and the Director of Asian Studies at the University of Calgary. He is the editor of the 72 volume Tibetan Tripitaka: Taipei Edition, Buddhism Along the Krishna River Valley of Andhra (along with Sree Padma) and 78 chapters, articles, and public lectures.
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Acknowledgments
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i
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Conventions Used
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iii
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Abbreviations
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v
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Introduction
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1
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Chapter One: Buddhist Historiography in China
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17
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Chapter Two: What is Self?
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43
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Chapter Three: Dragons, Lions and Buddhas
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73
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Chapter Four: Buddha Play
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101
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Chapter Five: A Comparison of the Ritual Creation and Use of Chan and Pure Land Art in China
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125
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Chapter Six: Early Chan Buddhist Activity
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147
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Chapter Seven: Buddhist Praxis in Light of Eschatology
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183
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Conclusion
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215
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Endnotes
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229
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Selected Bibliography
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257
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Index
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277
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