Description
Book SynopsisJohn Kieschnick provides an innovative, expansive account of how Chinese Buddhists have sought to understand their history through a Buddhist lens. Exploring a series of themes in mainstream Buddhist historiographical works from the fifth to the twentieth century, he looks for what they tell us about their compilers’ understanding of history.
Trade ReviewThis book tells us a great deal about a genre of Buddhist writing that we have not understood well so far because of its massive and chronological nature. The patterns of Chinese Buddhist histories are hard to see unless one has read all of them.
Buddhist Historiography in China is an excellent critical orientation to this material, written in a lively and engaging way that makes it really enjoyable and informative to read. -- James A. Benn, author of
Tea in China: A Religious and Cultural HistorySomewhat surprisingly, Buddhist historiography has not received much sustained attention before, at least in the West, despite voluminous studies of Chinese historical writing. Kieschnick introduces this subject, delineates its major contours, and argues for its significance. This book will change the way that future studies of Chinese historiography will be written. -- Grant Hardy, author of
Worlds of Bronze and Bamboo: Sima Qian's Conquest of HistoryKieschnick presents us with new perspectives to consider in the study of Chinese history and religion. * International Journal of Asian Studies *
Demonstrates why careful consideration of historiography is necessary and important, and he does
so in a lively and thought-provoking way. * History of Religions *
For the general history-interested reader, the volume can serve as a splendid introduction to Chinese Buddhism. * Religious Studies Review *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1. India
2. Sources
3. Karma
4. Prophecy
5. Genealogy
6. Modernity
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Appendix 1. Chronological List of Major Works
Appendix 2. Lineage Charts
Notes
Bibliography
Index
