audiobook British Submarine vs Italian Torpedo Boat: Mediterranean 1940–43 (Duel) by David Greentree in History

Description

The most common Buddhist practice in Asia is bowing; yet Buddhist and Christian Responses to the Kowtow Problem is the first study of Buddhist obeisance in China. In Confucian ritual; everyone is supposed to kowtow; or bow; to the Chinese emperor. But Buddhists claimed exemption from bowing to any layperson; even to their own parents or the emperor. This tension erupted in an imperial debate in 662.This study first asks how and why Buddhists should bow (to the Buddha; and to monks); and then explores the arguments over their refusing to bow to the emperor. These arguments take us into the core ideas of Buddhism and imperial power: How can one achieve nirvana by bowing? What is a Buddha image? Who is it that bows? Is there any ritual that can exempt a subject of the emperor? What are the limits of the state's power over human bodies? Centuries later; Christians had a new set of problems with bowing in China; to the emperor and to “idols.” Buddhist and Christian Responses to the Kowtow problem compares these cases of refusing to bow; discusses modern theories of obeisance; and finally moves to examine some contemporary analogies such as refusing to salute the American flag. Contributing greatly to the study of the body and power; ritual; religion and material culture; this volume is of interest to scholars and students of religious studies; Buddhism; Chinese history and material culture.