Early Chinese Religion, Part Two: The Period of Division (220-589 AD) (2 vols.)
Author | : John Lagerwey |
Publisher | : BRILL |
Total Pages | : 1584 |
Release | : 2009-11-23 |
ISBN-10 | : 9789047429296 |
ISBN-13 | : 904742929X |
Rating | : 4/5 (29X Downloads) |
Download or read book Early Chinese Religion, Part Two: The Period of Division (220-589 AD) (2 vols.) written by John Lagerwey and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2009-11-23 with total page 1584 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After the Warring States, treated in Part One of this set, there is no more fecund era in Chinese religious and cultural history than the period of division (220-589 AD). During it, Buddhism conquered China, Daoism grew into a mature religion with independent institutions, and, together with Confucianism, these three teachings, having each won its share of state recognition and support, formed a united front against shamanism. While all four religions are covered, Buddhism and Daoism receive special attention in a series of parallel chapters on their pantheons, rituals, sacred geography, community organization, canon formation, impact on literature, and recent archaeological discoveries. This multi-disciplinary approach, without ignoring philosophical and theological issues, brings into sharp focus the social and historical matrices of Chinese religion.