Japan

How was the Buddhist scripture translated into Chinese?Chinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Toru Funayama, "How the Buddhist Scriptures were translated into Chinese: When the Sutra Becomes a Sutra" - A stimulating reference book that is also recommended for considering what a sutra is!

How were sutras composed in ancient Indian languages converted into Chinese?

It is not easy to think about the "process of Chinese translation," but when you look at the actual situation, it is very interesting! It is amazing to see how the sutras were created! That's how sutras were created? This is exciting.

This book is also a work that offers great insights into Chinese and Japanese Buddhism.

History of Buddhism in New Asia 07Chinese Buddhism, Thought and History

New Asian Buddhist History 07: China II, Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty: The Rise and Development of Buddhism" - A recommended work to learn interesting facts about Dōmo and Zendo.

Religion is not only religion. Religions change and are generated by the historical background, political economy, and all other factors of the time.

China has a particularly strong relationship with the state. What about Japan, on the other hand?

This book is a very good thought experiment on these matters.

And the most interesting part of this book was the part where the flow of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism was explained. I was particularly inspired by the stories about Dōng and Zendo, two high priests who are also revered as the Seven High Priests in Jōdo Shinshu.

It is not often that I have the opportunity to learn about the life and personality of this Doumo and Zendo, so the story told in this book was just amazing!

Lao Zhuang and BuddhismChinese Buddhism, Thought and History

MIKUSABURO MORI, "Laozhuang and Buddhism" - A stimulating book that provides insight into the relationship between Laozhuang and the reception of Buddhism in China!

This book is a tremendously interesting classic! It's one of those books that is so stimulating it sparks your brain!"

Well, I am here for this book. This book is definitely one of the best books on China that I have ever read on this blog. I would say that this book ranks at the top not only in China but also in all books related to Buddhism. It is such an interesting book.

The main theme of this book is how Buddhism, which came from India, was accepted and transformed in China, and this is extremely exciting.
The book also includes an overview of Lao Zhuang philosophy, the relationship between Chinese Buddhism and politics, the development of Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism, and other interesting details that just keep coming up in this book. Oh no, it's interesting! It sparked my brain.

Lao-tzuChinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Tomohisa Ikeda, "'Laozi': Read All About His Thought" - Recommended reference book that examines Laozi's thought from various perspectives.

In the first half of the book, the author looks at the historical background of Lao Tzu's life and the process of the book's formation. From there, the author will look at the thought of "Laozi" in four major themes: "Ethical Thought," "Political Thought," "Curing Thought," and "Natural Thought.

It is a tremendous volume. The book discusses Lao Tzu in considerable detail. There are also extensive notes.

I honestly think it is a tough introductory book, but if you are interested in learning more about Lao Tzu, I highly recommend this work. I also recommend Kunio Hachiya's "Lao Tzu Explorations: The Idea of Continuing Life" as a set with this book. This is a work to learn more about Lao Tzu, politics, the state, and the historical background.

Han unshakable - one of the Three Wise MenChinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Nobuyuki Kaji, "Han Feizi: What is Evil?" - A thorough insight into human nature based on the theory of sexual vice! Legalism that strongly influenced Qin Shi Huangdi

In my personal opinion, it is by far easier to read than the "Analects" that I have read before. It is also interesting that it is told with a bit of irony, or perhaps black humor. I was left with the impression that I felt as if I was reading a short story by Chekhov. I think this is especially true of "The People in Disguise," which I introduced earlier. This coincidence must be the result of the two authors' calm and thorough human insight. It was very interesting.

It was an extremely stimulating and interesting read. It is a book that overturns the image that the classics are rigid and formal. I highly recommend this book.

silkworm (Bombyx mori)Chinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Toshihiko Uchiyama, "Genshi" - Recommended to learn about Confucian thought, famous for its theory of sexual vice! A famous book that also lets you know the connection between the historical background and thought from the Warring States Period to the establishment of the Qin Dynasty!

The time of Geng Zhi is just before the establishment of the Qin Empire. The number of countries that controlled China was limited, and the unification of the country was almost at hand. However, the "good government" that Mencius advocated was a dream come true.

That is why Confucius taught a more realistic and rational view of the world, the "theory of sexual vice. This is explained in detail in this book, so I hope you will read it and find out for yourself. It is very interesting.

Mencius (Meng Zi) (371-289BCE)Chinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Shigeki Kaizuka, "Mencius" - Recommended for learning about the Confucian philosophy that advocated a utopian state based on the theory of sexual goodness and benevolent government.

This book, "Mencius" will be a work that allows us to take a closer look at his life, thought, and historical background.

The book makes it clear how important the historical background is. It reveals how Mencius did not simply state his theory of sexual goodness in an idealistic manner, but as a persuasive theory in the context of the world of his time. He sells his own theory of sexual goodness to the king as "a policy for governing the country. It is interesting to note that, like Confucius and Lao Tzu, all of Chinese thought is related to the political policies of the country.
Other exciting details keep coming up in this book, such as the famous "fifty-fifty" story and Mencius' interesting personality. Here is the interesting side of Mencius that is too good to end up merely at the word level, such as "sexual goodness" or "hōnen chi".

the Analects of ConfuciusChinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Confucius' "Analects" - Confucian scriptures that had a great influence on Buddhism. The private nature of the narrative of "The Analects" is astonishing.

Reading the Analects for the first time this time, I found it an exciting read, saying, "Oh, I didn't know that that quote was preached here in this way! That famous saying was preached here in this way?" It was a stimulating reading.

I personally appreciated reading these famous words, but more importantly, I was particularly impressed by the overall atmosphere of the "Analects".

That said, I felt that "The Analects" was full of a sense of private life. The dialogue between Confucius and his disciples is full of names of people, and Confucius' proverbs are spoken under certain circumstances. In other words, there was an atmosphere of Confucius' words that were appropriate to the situation, rather than words that can be universally applied to any person at any time.

What is Confucianism?Chinese Buddhism, Thought and History

Kaji Nobuyuki, "What is Confucianism?" - Confucianism as a religion deeply connected with death. A recommended commentary to learn about the Chinese view of religion.

As the title suggests, this book is a work that looks at what Confucianism is. Confucianism is often seen as more of an ethic and morality than a religion, but according to the author, Confucianism is precisely what has greatly influenced the religion of the Chinese.

You will learn in this book that Confucianism is deeply connected to death and that it cannot be contained by rituals, ethics and morality alone.

I also highly recommend "Confucius," which I mentioned in my previous article on Nobuyuki Kaji's writings. It is a wonderful biography that shows who and what kind of person Confucius was. If you read it in combination with this work, the synergy effect will be outstanding. I highly recommend the two books as a set.