Japan

ARC ReportBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

ARC Report Sri Lanka 2023/2024 - A political and economic report on the latest developments in Sri Lanka.

Can we somehow know the latest situation in Sri Lanka: what was the economic crisis and riots in 2022? What is going on with China's One Belt One Road and what are the relations with India, USA and Japan?

Unlike India, books on the latest developments in Sri Lanka are hard to find. In fact, it is almost unheard of.

It was in this context that this book, "ARC Report: Sri Lanka 2023/2024," finally hit the market.

As the title suggests, it is truly up-to-date; the 2023 report on Sri Lanka's political economy will be in this book.

A World History of TeaBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Sakae Kakuyama, "The World History of Tea" - Why did tea become so popular in England? Recommended for learning the history of world hegemony as seen through tea!

This work is recommended to learn more about the history and culture of tea in England.

Moreover, this book is unique in that it does not simply look at the history of tea in England, but also at its connections with Japan, China, India, Sri Lanka, and the rest of the world.

This is an interesting book. It is a wonderful book to learn about the history of the world through tea.

I picked up this book to learn more about Indian and Sri Lankan teas, and I hit the jackpot. I highly recommend this book. I highly recommend this book.

Network of AwakeningBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Noriyuki Ueda, "Network of Awakening" - Where does our difficulty in living come from? A great book to read now!

We will see in this book what we are suffering from, why we are suffering, and how we can free ourselves from it. I am sure you will gain new insights that will be eye-opening.

This is a great book that I hope many people will read! I would like to recommend this book as a Buddhist book as well. I felt that what is discussed in this book is Buddhism that does not speak in Buddhist terms. Sri Lanka, where Dr. Ueda did his fieldwork, is truly a Buddhist country. I could feel the origin of Dr. Ueda, who later wrote "Ganbare Bukkyo" in this book. I was very happy to read this book, as I was greatly empowered by "Ganbare Buddhism".

manorJapanese Buddhism and its History

Shunichi Ito, "Manors: From the Kenda Eien Private Property Law to the Onin Rebellion" - Japanese History from the perspective of manors! Also recommended to learn about the relationship between temples and manors.

As the title of the book suggests, "Shoen: From the Kenda Eien Private Property Law to the Onin Rebellion" focuses on "manors," which have had a major impact on Japanese history. The book is a fascinating look at Japanese history from the perspective of "manors," a viewpoint that may seem unlikely, but it is one that is hard to find.

The connection between temples and manors is also significant in considering Japanese Buddhism. Religion is not only about religion. Political economy, historical background, and everything else is connected. In this sense, the manor house, which served as a major economic base and the site for the development of information and technology, is also a major point of reference.

Ancient History of the PeopleJapanese Buddhism and its History

Kazuhiko Yoshida, "Ancient History of the People" - Recommended for understanding ancient Buddhism and people's lives as seen through "Nihon ryoiki"!

This work is based on the "Nihon ryoiki" written by the Nara period monk Keikai, and looks at the lives of the people of that time.

This book reveals that Buddhist beliefs had already taken root among the people as early as the Nara period (710-794). We will also learn what kind of faith it was. This book also makes us think about what kind of salvation the people, not the aristocrats and monks, were seeking from Buddhism.

It was a very gratifying work for me to think about Japanese Buddhism. I highly recommend this work.

Emperor Shomu (hereditary title; orig. one of the two highest such titles, later demoted to sixth highest of eight)Japanese Buddhism and its History

Shinji Yoshikawa, "History of the Emperors, Volume 02: Emperor Shomu and the Buddhist Capital Heijo-kyo" - Recommended for learning about the history of the Nara period and the flow of Buddhism!

I found the section in the second half of the book on how the capital was moved from Heijo-kyo to Heian-kyo very stimulating. It is often said that the capital was moved from Heijo-kyo to Heian-kyo to distance itself from Buddhist powers, but it was interesting to learn that this was not actually the case, and that a major factor was a shift in the emperor's imperial lineage.

It is also interesting to look at the Nara and Heian periods from perspectives that we do not usually consider, such as the difference between the roles of the Buddhist capital Heijo-kyo and the political city of Heian-kyo.

The book itself was very easy to read and I was able to read it easily.

This is a recommended reference book to get an overall picture of the Nara and early Heian periods.

ancient BuddhismJapanese Buddhism and its History

Kazuhiko Yoshida, "Re-reading Ancient Buddhism" - A recommended reference book for learning about the introduction of Buddhism, Prince Shotoku, the Emperor and the State!

In this book, interesting points that are truly eye-opening are made more and more. The commentary on Prince Shotoku and the formation of the state and the syncretism of Shintoism and Buddhism are especially interesting. It is extremely interesting.

I am a monk of the Jodo Shinshu sect. Shinran, the founder of Jodo Shinshu, was a monk who lived from the late Heian to Kamakura periods. I often have the opportunity to listen to lectures and Dharma talks about the period in which Shinran lived, but I do not have such opportunities to learn about the historical background and Buddhism in the Nara and Heian periods, which goes back even further than that. For such a person like me, it was very gratifying to learn about Buddhism and the historical background of this period, which is also the foundation of Japanese Buddhism.

New Asian Buddhist History 11Japanese Buddhism and its History

New Asian Buddhist History 11 Japan I: Foundations of Japanese Buddhism" - A recommended reference book to learn surprising facts about the reception of Buddhism in Japan and Prince Shotoku!

Let me say this first.

This book, "New Asian Buddhist History 11 Japan I: Foundations of Japanese Buddhism" is extremely interesting!

So far in this blog, we have introduced a number of books from the first book in the "History of New Asian Buddhism" series, "History of New Asian Buddhism 01 India I: Background of the Emergence of Buddhism," all of which have been published in the "New Asian Buddhist History" series, all of which have been published in the "New Asian Buddhist History" series. Really? !" I have introduced a number of reference books since the first book in the "History of New Asian Buddhism" series, "India I: Background of the Emergence of Buddhism.

And among them, this work, "New Asian Buddhist History 11 Japan I: Foundations of Japanese Buddhism," was one of the most stimulating and interesting.

This book is a great book for learning the basics of Japanese Buddhism. It is a great book that I highly recommend. I highly recommend you to pick up a copy.

Wu emperor of Liang (China)Chinese Buddhism, Thought and History

MIKUSABURO MORI, "The Wu Emperor of Liang: Tragedy of a Buddhist Dynasty" - Recommended to learn about the good government of a Chinese king who was a devout believer in Buddhism and his tragedy! And the connection with Cloudy Lan.

This book will take a closer look at the political and religious affairs of Emperor Liang Wu. The Wu Emperor had a good government that was unthinkable at the time. The Wu emperor's Buddhist line of peaceful culture clearly enriched people's lives. But what a sad irony that the good government itself was the cause of the country's collapse.

In this book, we will take a closer look at the good government of such a warrior emperor and the collapse of his nation. As you can see in the quote above, the destruction of the country is very sad. Although the Wu emperor himself was not without his own shortcomings and blunders, it is still tempting to imagine what history might have been like.

In addition, the main character of this work, Liang's Wuji, is actually a very deep connection for Jodo Shinshu. In this sense, this book is highly recommended.

hato-mara-shiChinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Yokochao Huiyi and Yoshijun Suwa, "Personages: Buddhism in China, Rashi" - Recommended to learn about the tumultuous life of the translator monk Hatomarai Rashi!

... Hatimarashi's life of hardship is well known, and each of these hardships will be looked at in detail in this book.

In this book, you will realize how much hard work went into the translation of the sutras left behind by Hatumarashi and other translators, which we in later generations take for granted.

I highly recommend this book together with "How Were Buddhist Scriptures Translated into Chinese: When Sutras Become Scriptures" by Toru Funayama, which was previously introduced on this blog.