During his nine-month stay in China; the Japanese monk Saicho (767-822) was alleged to have been initiated into an illustrious esoteric lineage starting from a prestigious Indian Esoteric patriarch. It is also believed that Saichos Chinese mentor; based on three esoteric texts translated by the Indian Patriarch; transmitted to him some particular forms of esoteric teachings; the core of which is preserved in one of the two "dharma-transmission documents" from Saichos teacher. This is the conventional view regarding the roots of Tendai Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. This book subjects this conventional view to a critical examination. It argues that the two "dharma-transmission documents" were not written by Saicho's Chinese mentor; but were prepared in Japan for strengthening the legitimacy of the initiation Saicho received from China. The three siddhi texts attributed to the Indian patriarch were also composed in Japan as the scriptural support for Saicho's esoteric transmission. The Tendai form of Esotericism in the name of Saicho was for the main part created not by Saicho himself but by his followers. These negative conclusions can be turned into a positive agenda for future research of Japanese Tendai Buddhism. Scholars can turn from a fruitless search for the roots of Tendai Esotericism in China to look more closely in Japan. This study may invite more scholarly attention to a host of Buddhist apocrypha which; long regarded as Chinese; were actually produced in Japan or Korea. This book also addresses issues of larger implications for East Asian religions; including the manufacturing process of the so-called Buddhist apocrypha and their roles; lineage construction for the purpose of religious legitimation and of overcoming borderland complexes; application of overarching theoretic patterns in different religious traditions.
#504646 in Books 2010-10-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .76 x 5.98l; 1.04 #File Name: 0295990627320 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. EnlighteningBy ColleenGrowing up in an era where I heard of the spotted owl and the surrounding controversy as told by the loggers in my family; this book was a wonderfully impartial recount of the facts of the case. The back stories of all sides of the issue were very helpful in being able to more completely understand why each person formed the opinions that they did. With the mainstream media focusing only on the controversial aspect of any issue; it was refreshing to be able to read and form my own opinions on the subject.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Thorough Job of Telling a Complex StoryBy Nancy MessmerThis updated version of the Final Forest is a fascinating history of the "Spotted Owl" controversy concerning logging in the West End of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. The story is told through the eyes of each stakeholder group...featuring individuals who exemplify each set of issues and perspectives. Excellent research and writing.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Definitive Account of the Battle Over Old GrowthBy Brown DogExtraordinarily well researched and written. This is the accounting of both sides of the old growth issue that never was widely reported.
