The Buddhist Tradition in India, China, and Japan: A Review

The book is essentially an anthology of extracts from Buddhist writings, many here in new, modern translations. The editorsÆ goal was, as far as possible, to allow Buddhism and Buddhists to speak for themselves, rather than be filtered through the editorsÆ biases and opinions. Like most of the worldÆs religions, Buddhism exists in a vast variety of local variants, but the editors felt that the major historical thrust of the transition of Buddhism from its origins in India into China and then into Japan would give a reliable framework on which to hang a general picture of the religion. They admit with regret that the book does not deal with the Buddhism of Southeast Asia, Tibet, or Korea; hence the writings of the Theravada traditions are underrepresented, as is the Buddhism of the Dalai Lama.

Nevertheless, this is an immensely useful book for the student wishing to be exposed to ôrealö Buddhism in a comprehensible format. The discussions are aimed at the general reader, not the specialist, and the translations are into non-technical language; they are also supplemented by detailed notes wherever th

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ricism and the Decline of Buddhism in India,ö again compiled by Bashan, deals with a topic often swept under the rug, or at least not emphasized to beginners: that of the tantra or ôsexual yoga,ö which continues to exist within Hinduism, as well as in China among the Taoists. ItÆs not that this sort of religious sex is unheard of in the West; it just seems that it is not considered nearly as scandalous or sinful in India as in Europe. The chapter also deals with the way that Hinduism--which one might define as Brahminism that has adopted the moral reforms proposed by the Buddha--managed to force Buddhism as an organized and non-Hindu religion out of India completely. The next three chapters constitute Part II of the book, ôBuddhism in China.ö Chapter 5, ôThe Coming of Buddhism to China,ö compiled by de Bary and Hurvitz, focused on the initials problems that arose between Buddhism and the traditional Chinese religions and philosophies. The integration that eventually came about between Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism represents a monumental achievement for human adaptability and willingness to compromise. Chapter 6, ôThe Schools of Chinese Buddhism I,ö compiled by Hurvitz, Wing-tsit Chan, Hakeda, and de Bary, covers the Thre
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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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