Overview
In Japan today, Zen monastic life is practiced substantially as it was practiced in medieval Japan or Sung dynasty China. More than twenty-one thousand Zen temples are active. This book examines the Zen monastery as a major institution in medieval Japanese society. Focusing on the Five Mountains network of officially sponsored Zen monasteries, it describes the transmission of Rinzai and Soto Zen to Japan, traces the patterns of secular patronage, and discusses in detail the Zen monastic environment, the monastic rule, the community, and the economy. This is the first detailed study in any Western language of the social and institutional development of Zen Buddhism. Martin Collcutt's illustrated text should be valuable to those interested in medieval Japanese history as well as students of Zen practice and Zen-related culture.
Full Product Details
Author: Martin Collcutt ,
Edwin O. Reischauer
Publisher: Harvard University, Asia Center
Imprint: Harvard University, Asia Center
Edition: New edition
Volume: No. 85
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 3.20cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.626kg
ISBN: 9780674304987
ISBN 10: 0674304985
Pages: 399
Publication Date: 06 January 1996
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
This study...explores many areas of Japanese monastic life not thoroughly examined before by Western scholars...[A] rich and competent study of major significance.
This book should be read widely by students of history, Buddhism, and history of religions for its fascinating contents as well as its methodological astuteness.--American Historical Review This study...explores many areas of Japanese monastic life not thoroughly examined before by Western scholars...[A] rich and competent study of major significance.--Journal of the American Academy of Religion Five Mountains is a fine piece of historical writing and one of the richest sources now available in English for information on Japan's medieval age...Martin Collcutt deserves much praise for this book. It is an outstanding contribution to the literature in English on medieval Japan.--Monumenta Nipponica
Five Mountains is a fine piece of historical writing and one of the richest sources now available in English for information on Japan’s medieval age… Martin Collcutt deserves much praise for this book. It is an outstanding contribution to the literature in English on medieval Japan. * Monumenta Nipponica * This book should be read widely by students of history, Buddhism, and history of religions for its fascinating contents as well as its methodological astuteness. * American Historical Review * This study…explores many areas of Japanese monastic life not thoroughly examined before by Western scholars… [A] rich and competent study of major significance. * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *
Five Mountains is a fine piece of historical writing and one of the richest sources now available in English for information on Japan's medieval age...Martin Collcutt deserves much praise for this book. It is an outstanding contribution to the literature in English on medieval Japan. Five Mountains is a fine piece of historical writing and one of the richest sources now available in English for information on Japan's medieval age...Martin Collcutt deserves much praise for this book. It is an outstanding contribution to the literature in English on medieval Japan. This book should be read widely by students of history, Buddhism, and history of religions for its fascinating contents as well as its methodological astuteness. This study...explores many areas of Japanese monastic life not thoroughly examined before by Western scholars...[A] rich and competent study of major significance.
Author Information
Martin Collcutt is Professor of East Asian Studies and History at Princeton University.
