A History of Japanese Buddhism

The main focus of the work is on the tradition of the monk (o-b -san) as the main agent of Buddhism, together with the historical processes by which monks have developed Japanese Buddhism as it appears in the present day. Uniquely, Japanese Buddhist monks are allowed to marry (1872), thereby rejecting the traditional precepts; they are preoccupied, almost to the exclusion of other 'community' activities, with performing funeral rites, and for centuries Buddhism was institutionalised and politicized as a national religion, thereby marking it out as a distinctive sect within the Buddhist traditions worldwide. In more recent times, Japanese Buddhism has also engendered the birth of numerous new religious movements. In conclusion, the author reviews the future direction of Japanese Buddhism and the role of monks in society. Students and researchers will find "A History of Japanese Buddhism" an indispensable source of reference, as well as providing valuable key benchmarks for further research. Importantly, the volume also contains a comprehensive bibliography of relevant English language references.