Chinese Esoteric Buddhism is generally held to have been established as a distinct and institutionalized Buddhist school in eighth-century China by “the Three Great Masters of Kaiyuan”: Śubhākarasiṃha, Vajrabodhi, and Amoghavajra. Geoffrey C. Goble provides an innovative account of the tradition’s emergence that sheds new light on the structures and traditions that shaped its institutionalization.Goble focuses on Amoghavajra (704–774), contending that he was the central figure in Esoteric Buddhism’s rapid rise in Tang dynasty China, and the other two “patriarchs” are known primarily through Amoghavajra’s teachings and writings. He presents the scriptural, mythological, and practical aspects of Chinese Esoteric Buddhism in the eighth century and places them in the historical contexts within which Amoghavajra operated. By telling the story of Amoghavajra’s rise to prominence and of Esoteric Buddhism’s corresponding institutionalization in China, Goble makes the case that the evolution of this tradition was predicated on Indic scriptures and practical norms rather than being the product of conscious adaptation to a Chinese cultural environment. He demonstrates that Esoteric Buddhism was employed by Chinese rulers to defeat military and political rivals. Based on close readings of a broad range of textual sources previously untapped by English-language scholarship, this book overturns many assumptions about the origins of Chinese Esoteric Buddhism.
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Chinese Esoteric Buddhism is generally held to have been established as a distinct Buddhist school in eighth-century China. Geoffrey C. Goble provides an innovative account of the tradition’s emergence that sheds new light on the structures and traditions that shaped its institutionalization, with a focus on Amoghavajra (704–774).
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AcknowledgmentsList of Conventions and AbbreviationsIntroduction1. The Three Great Masters of Kaiyuan and the Teaching of the Five Divisions2. Esoteric Buddhism in Context: Tang Imperial Religion3. Esoteric Buddhism in Context: The An Lushan Rebellions and Tang War Religion4. Amoghavajra and the Ruling Elite5. The Institutional Establishment of Esoteric Buddhism6. The Consolidation of Amoghavajra’s LegacyNotesBibliographyIndex
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Richly detailed study . . . this meticulous work will appeal to those interested in Chinese history in general as well as those studying Tang dynasty China, esoteric Buddhism, or Buddhism in China.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780231194082
Publisert
2019-10-08
Utgiver
Vendor
Columbia University Press
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet

Forfatter

Biographical note

Geoffrey C. Goble is assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma.