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.
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