From: "Ruppert, Brian
Douglas" <ruppert@illinois.edu>
Dear Colleagues in Buddhist Studies:
We would like to announce that our co-written work, "A Cultural History of
Japanese Buddhism," will be published by Wiley-Blackwell in early June.
Below is the description from the back cover, followed by the Table of
Contents. Note that there are both paperback and hardcover editions and that it
includes a substantial character glossary.
William E. Deal (Case Western U.) and Brian Ruppert (University of Illinois)
From the Back Cover
/A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism/ presents a vivid, nuanced, and
chronological account of Buddhist religion in Japan, from its emergence in the
sixth century right through to the present day. Authors William Deal and Brian
Ruppert, both experts on Japanese religions, explore each period of Japanese
history to reveal the complex and often controversial histories of Japanese
Buddhists and their unfolding narratives.
Incorporating the most recent Japanese and Western scholarship, the book
explores the contexts that made possible the introduction of Buddhist texts and
images in the sixth century; traces their development through the Nara and
early Heian eras; and reveals the increasing influence of Buddhism into the
Kamakura Era. It addresses the increasing competition between Buddhist, Shinto,
and Neo-Confucian world-views through to the mid-19th century, and following
Japan's emergence as a world power, explores Buddhist thought and practice from
World War II through to the present day. Offering readers more than a simple
historical review, the authors also reveal the seemingly contradictory ways
that Japanese people are able to draw upon Buddhist ideas to help create a more
meaningful world, whilst at the same time justifying multiple and competing
perspectives. With scholarly precision, A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism
offers an illuminating glimpse into the evolution of a complex and often
misunderstood religious tradition.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1 Early Historical Contexts (Protohistory to 645) 13
2 Ancient Buddhism (645–950) 45
3 Early Medieval Buddhism (950–1300): The Dawn of Medieval Society and
Related Changes in Japanese Buddhist Culture 87
4 Late Medieval Buddhism (1300–1467): New Buddhisms, Buddhist Learning,
Dissemination and the Fall into Chaos 135
5 Buddhism and the Transition to the Modern Era (1467–1800) 171
6 Modern Buddhism (1800–1945) 209
7 Buddhism Since 1945 231
Character Glossary 255
Index 287
