A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism

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.

William E. Deal is Severance Associate Professor of the History of Religion in the Department of Religion at Case Western Reserve University, and Associate Director for Digital Humanities at Baker–Nord center for the Humanities. He is the author of Theory for Religious Studies (with Timothy K. Beal, 2005) and Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan (2006). Brian Ruppert is Associate Professor of Japanese Religions at the University of Illinois, where he is a faculty member in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the Department of Religion.  A program committee member of the Association for Asian Studies, his publications include Jewel in the Ashes: Buddha Relics and Power in Early Medieval Japan (2000) and "Buddhism in Japan" ( Encyclopedia of Religion , 2nd ed., 2005).