Chinese Buddhism

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Chinese Buddhism

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Joseph Edkins offers a scholarly examination of Buddhism's adaptation within Chinese culture, philosophy, and society. This text explores the synthesis of Indian doctrines with local traditions, analyzing schools, mythology, and the religion's enduring influence on Chinese art and thought.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Chinese Buddhism*, Joseph Edkins provides a comprehensive analysis of how Buddhism evolved from its Indian origins into a deeply integrated force within Chinese society. Edkins traces the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the subsequent development of Northern Buddhism, which uniquely blended Persian and Babylonian influences with native Chinese thought. He details the major schools, including the Yoga and Chan traditions, and elucidates complex doctrines such as Karma, the twelve Nidanas, and the transmigration of souls. The text explores Buddhist cosmology, describing a vast hierarchy of divine beings, including Indra, Brahma, and various spirits like Nagas and Asuras. Edkins notes how Buddhist texts incorporated figures from older Hindu mythology, often casting these deities as disciples of the Buddha to elevate the human teacher above celestial powers. The author examines the practical aspects of the faith, covering monastic orders, festivals, calendar observances, and the use of Sanskrit in liturgy. He discusses the moral system, the role of monasteries, and Buddhism's profound impact on Chinese art and popular superstitions, such as Feng-Shui. Edkins argues that while the majority of the Chinese population identifies as Confucian due to ancestral worship and education, Buddhism remains powerful through its philosophical doctrines and artistic contributions. He concludes by suggesting that Buddhism awakened aspirations for redemption that were later satisfied by Christianity, highlighting the religion's historical significance as a bridge between Eastern and Western philosophical ideas. Edkins also emphasizes that Chinese Buddhism is essentially Northern Buddhism, shaped by its conflict with Persian and Babylonian thought, and notes that the Chinese populace often adheres to a syncretic mix of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist practices.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/joseph-edkins_chinese-buddhism.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-24abe12b4db40fe1.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-03 08:42 UTC

Categories

• Religion