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China's Holy Mountain Christoph Baumer (Independent Scholar)

China's Holy Mountain By Christoph Baumer (Independent Scholar)

China's Holy Mountain by Christoph Baumer (Independent Scholar)

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Summary

'China's Holy Mountain' is both a splendid introduction to the history of Buddhism in East Asia and an evocative and lavishly-illustrated gazetteer of the monasteries and sacred artefacts themselves. It will be an indispensable resource for students of Asian religion and philosophy, with further appeal to general readers.

China's Holy Mountain Summary

China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism by Christoph Baumer (Independent Scholar)

Rising from Shanxi Province like a three-dimensional mandala, the soaring peaks of Wutai Shan ('Five-terrace Mountain') have inspired pilgrims and travellers for almost two millennia. A striking terrain of towering emerald forests, wraith-like mists and crenellated ridges, this consecrated and secluded site is said to be the spiritual home of Wenshu Pusa, Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It is one of the most venerable and important Buddhist sanctuaries in China, yet still remains relatively little known in the West. Christoph Baumer has travelled extensively in the Wutai Shan region, and here offers the first comprehensive account of the cradle of Chinese Buddhism. In his remarkable new travelogue, 300 luminous photographs capture the unique spirituality of the 60 monasteries which straddle the complex. Charting festivals, rituals, pilgrimages and the daily life of the monks, abbots and abbesses, 'China's Holy Mountain' is both a splendid introduction to the history of Buddhism in East Asia and an evocative and lavishly-illustrated gazetteer of the monasteries and sacred artefacts themselves. It will be an indispensable resource for students of Asian religion and philosophy, with further appeal to general readers.

China's Holy Mountain Reviews

'This is a most informative and beautifully illustrated book about Mt Wutai, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains dedicated to Majusri (Wenshu), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It provides background information about the philosophical and religious heritage of China, the history of Buddhism, and major schools of Chinese Buddhism. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the book is its detailed description of the pilgrimage routes to the mountain and its five terraces together with more than sixty existing monasteries that the author visited personally. The reader is introduced to the history and legends of the monasteries and the resident monks and nuns. It is the next best thing to making the pilgrimage to the holy site oneself. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in Buddhism, sacred geography, and pilgrimage.' - Chun-fang Yu, Sheng Yen Professor of Chinese Buddhist Studies, Columbia University; 'To enter the world of 'China's Holy Mountain' is to follow in the footsteps of modern-day pilgrim and erudite explorer Christoph Baumer, who made his journey into one of China's most spiritual mountains: Mt Wutai in Shanxi Province. Richly illustrated and extremely readable, his book first sketches a background to China's religions then gives an eyewitness account of the author's visits to all the monasteries (primarily Buddhist) that still exist on the mountain. The record of his journey to Mt Wutai by Japanese Buddhist pilgrim Ennin (793-864) has left an indelible testimony of the sites and history of the mountain on the eve of the devastating mid-ninth century Buddhist persecution. Baumer's modern photo-journey similarly offers an up-to-date account of the religious institutions and practices of Mt Wutai in the early twenty-first century, including the prominence of Tibetan Buddhism since the late imperial period, in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution, and during the throes of China's modernization. This remarkable book will be a valuable historical and ethnographical record for decades and perhaps centuries to come.' - Dorothy C. Wong, Associate Professor of East Asian Art, University of Virginia

About Christoph Baumer (Independent Scholar)

Christoph Baumer - a leading explorer of Central Asia, Tibet and China - has written several well-received books in the fields of history, religion, archaeology and travel. These include The Church of the East: An Illustrated History of Assyrian Christianity (2006) and Traces in the Desert: Journeys of Discovery across Central Asia (2008), both published by I.B.Tauris. Dr Baumer is President of the Society for the Exploration of EurAsia and a member of the Explorer's Club, New York, and the Royal Asiatic Society and the Royal Geographical Society, London.

Table of Contents

Glossary Foreword I. Introduction II. The spiritual and historical context Origins of China's cultural development The veneration of heaven The Hundred Schools of Thought Confucius and the belief in morality and education Mengzi and the goodness of human nature Mozi and the state-mandated universal love of humanity The Legalists and the rule of lawn China's first emperor makes a pilgrimage to a sacred mountain Daoism and non-action Confucianism as state ideology Daoism becomes a religion III. The spread of Buddhism to China Challenges of the early Buddhist scholars of China The development of Indian Buddhism Hinayana and Mahayana, the Lesser Vehicle and the Great Vehicle Yuezhi and Central Asian translators in China Revolutionary aspects of Buddhism The critique of the Confucians The 'Festival of the Hungry Ghosts' IV. The 'Barbarian Emperors' elevate Buddhism to the state religion Religion, politics and art Aristocratic Buddhism in southern China Folk Buddhism and state religion in northern China The missionary and magician Fotudeng converts a TurkoMongol people The Northern Wei and the cave temples of Yungang The development of Buddhist sculpture before the Sui Dynasty Kumarajiva and Buddhabhadra debate the Buddha-nature V. The Ten Schools of Chinese Buddhism The further development and new direction of Buddhism 1. Sanlun Zong 2. Niepan Shi 3. Jushe Zong 4. Tiantai Zong 5. Huayan Zong 6. Weishi Zong 7. Lu Zong 8. Mi Zong 9. Jingtu Zong 10. Chan Zong VI. The nine sacred mountains of China and Mount Wutai Shan The sacred landscape of Wutai Shan and its numerical symbolism Wenshushili Pusa The history of Wutai Shan VII. Pilgrimage routes to the Five Terrace Mountain: The Outer Regions The southwestern outer region Nanchan Si ??? Hongfu Si ??? Foguang Si ??? Zunsheng Si ??? The northwestern outer region The luohans Huayan Si, Datong ??? Mu Ta ?? Bairenyan Si ???? Huiji Si ??? Ayuwang Ta ???? Zhao Gao Si ??? Yan Shan Si ??? Gong Zhu Si ??? VIII. The five terraces and their monasteries The northern terrace Beitai ?? and Lingying Si ??? Dragons, clouds and bodhisattvas The eastern terrace Dongtai ??, Wanghai Si ??? and Nayuolan Dong ???? The southern terrace Nantai ?? and Puji Si ??? The western terrace Xitai ?? and Falei Si ??? The central terrace Zongtai ?? and Yanjiao Si ??? IX. The monastery city of Taihuai ???? Xiantong Si ??? The spatial arrangement of monasteries Tayuan Si ??? Pusading Si ???? Wutai Shan - Bridgehead of Tibetan Buddhism in China Wanfo Ge ??? Historical panoramic map of Wutai Shan Guangren Si ??? The most important monastic festivals Luohou Si ?[??]? Yuanzhao Si ??? Guangzong Si ??? Guanghua Si ??? Pushou Si ??? Santa Si ??? Cifu Si ??? Sanquan Si ??? Shouning Si ??? Self-immolation and self-mutilation as the greatest sacrifice X. The North Bishan Si ??? The consecration ceremony of monks and nuns Jingang Ku ??? and the Wulang ?? ancestor shrine Jifu Si ??? Qifo Si ??? Guangming Si ??? Baohua Si ??? The 'Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution' Miaoding An ??? Zhaoyuanwai Tang ???? XI. The East Shangshi Tayuan Si ????? Shancai Dong ??? Shangshancai Dong ???? Dailuoding Si ????Wenshu Si ??? Puhua Si ??? Guanyin Dong ??? Huayan Dong ??? Wenshu Dong ??? Tiewa Si ??? XII. The South Shuxiang Si ??? Lingying Si ??? Lingfeng Si ??? Wanfo Dong ??? Nanshan Si ??? Youguo Si ??? The Eight Immortals of Daoism Zhenhai Si ??? Wanyuan An ??? Mingyue Chi ??? and Jingang Bao Ta ???? Puan Si ???? Abbess Shi Chang Long Bayun Si ??? Buddha Shakyamuni's birthday celebration in Bayun Si Fomu Dong ??? Lingjing Si ??? Baitou An ??? Guandi Si ??? Haihui An ??? Jingang An ??? Gufo Si ??? XIII. The West Ruiying Si ??? Fenglin Si ??? Yuhua Si ??? Jixiang Si ??? Longquan Si ??? Linggong Ta ??? Zhulin Si ??? The Japanese pilgrim monk Ennin and Wutai Shan Shiziwo Si

Additional information

NPB9781848857001
9781848857001
1848857004
China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism by Christoph Baumer (Independent Scholar)
Christoph Baumer (Independent Scholar)
New
Hardback
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
2011-09-19
384
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
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