Hagiographies or idealized biographies which recount the lives of saints; bodhisattvas and other charismatic figures have been the meeting place for myth and experience. In medieval Europe; the 'lives of saints' were read during liturgical celebrations and the texts themselves were treated as sacred objects. In Japan; it was believed that those who read the biographies of lofty monks would acquire merit. Since hagiographies were written or compiled by 'believers'; the line between fantasy and reality was often obscured. This study of the bodhisattva Gyoki - regarded as the monk who started the largest social welfare movement in Japan - illustrates how Japanese Buddhist hagiographers chose to regard a single monk's charitable activities as a miraculous achievement that shaped the course of Japanese history.
#2301027 in Books GOSCH STEPHEN STEARNS 2007-12-02 2007-11-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.21 x .46 x 6.14l; .0 #File Name: 0415229413200 pagesPremodern travel in world history
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