Description
Book SynopsisThe tradition of Chan Buddhism - more popularly known as Zen - has been romanticized throughout its history. This book shows how modern critical techniques make possible a more skeptical, accurate, and - ultimately - productive assessment of Chan lineages, teaching, fundraising practices, and social organization.
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Conventions McRae's Rules of Zen Studies 1. Looking at Lineage: A Fresh Perspective on Chan Buddhism 2. Beginnings: Differentiating/Connecting Bodhidharma and the East Mountain Teaching 3. Metropolitan Chan: Imperial Patronage and the Chan Style 4. The Riddle of Encounter Dialogue: Who, What, When, and Where? 5. Zen and the Art of Fund-Raising: Religious Vitality and Institutional Dominance in the Song Dynasty 6. Climax Paradigm: Cultural Polarities and Patterns of Self-Cultivation in Song-Dynasty Chan Notes Character Glossary Bibliography Index
