Japanese Buddhism: A Cultural History

by Yoshiro Tamura, Jeffrey Hunter

Buddhism was founded in India more than two thousand years ago, but the Japanese molded it to suit their culture, and it became one of the most enduring and far-reaching cultural and intellectual forces in Japan's history.

The stamp of Japanese Buddhism is unmistakable in the nation's poetry, literature, and art; and the imprint of Japan's indigenous culture is clear from the amalgamation of pre-Buddhist worship and esoteric Buddhism in the practice of the Shugendo ascetics.

Japan's Buddhism and the nation's cultural infrastructure are so inextricably linked that it is impossible to understand one without the other. Japanese Buddhism is both a history of Japanese Buddhism and an introduction to Japan's political, social, and cultural history. It examines Japanese Buddhism in the context of literary and intellectual trends and of other religions, exploring social and intellectual questions that an ordinary history of religion would not address.

Genres: Buddhism, Japan, Religion, History, Japanese Literature, Nonfiction, Cultural

232 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[Jackson Hager · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, well-written introduction to Japanese Buddhism. However, towards the end I found the author focused more on the New Religions of Japan than buddhism and the lack of a bibliography is also disappointing.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clear, easy introductory to Japanese Buddhism and its many sects. Tamura gives a concise historical overview of Japanese Buddhism while noting important cultural influences which have significantly shaped Japanese society. The final chapter sums up well the entirety of the text.

[Norbert Barth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to read. Published for a magazine. Without bibliographical references.