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<br> Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati is a much needed and very readable work that presents a rich and multifaceted picture of the development of Chan and significantly advances our understanding of it. It is a must-read for every scholar interested in Chinese Buddhism. I will also be highly useful in graduate seminars and even in upper-level undergraduate courses. --Journal of Chinese Religions<p><br>Albert Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati critically examines the formation of Chan transmission records (denglu) that were produced in the Song period. By demonstrating the degree to which the Chan narrative was shaped by considerations of court and literati patronage, his analysis lays bare the process by which the Chan tradition constructed some of its central myths. His study joins a distinguished list of critical studies that open a window on the historical reality of the Chan tradition.--Daniel A. Getz, Jr., co-editor of Buddhism in the Sung<p><br> This is a fascinating and very important study of the history of the development of the Chan/Zen monastic institution as seen through a careful reading of the denglu or transmission records. While other books have examined the institution or the literary texts of Chan, this is the very first work in English to provide a socio-political historical account based on a group of writings that is crucial for understanding how Chan Buddhism took hold and became the dominant religious movement in the Song dynasty. Welter explores in detail which monks were responsible for the spread and how and why they garnered support from public officials and literati, and clarifies the boundary line between mythical narrative and factual history presented in the records. Anybody interested in role of Chan/Zen in Chinese society will want to read and digest the contents of this book. --Steven Heine, author of Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters<p><br>

Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati is a much needed and very readable work that presents a rich and multifaceted picture of the development of Chan and significantly advances our understanding of it. It is a must-read for every scholar interested in Chinese Buddhism. I will also be highly useful in graduate seminars and even in upper-level undergraduate courses. --Journal of Chinese Religions<br> Albert Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati critically examines the formation of Chan transmission records (denglu) that were produced in the Song period. By demonstrating the degree to which the Chan narrative was shaped by considerations of court and literati patronage, his analysis lays bare the process by which the Chan tradition constructed some of its central myths. His study joins a distinguished list of critical studies that open a window on the historical reality of the Chan tradition.--Daniel A. Getz, Jr., co-editor of Buddhism in the Sung<br> This is a fascinating and very important study of the history of the development of the Chan/Zen monastic institution as seen through a careful reading of the denglu or transmission records. While other books have examined the institution or the literary texts of Chan, this is the very first work in English to provide a socio-political historical account based on a group of writings that is crucial for understanding how Chan Buddhism took hold and became the dominant religious movement in the Song dynasty. Welter explores in detail which monks were responsible for the spread and how and why they garnered support from public officials and literati, and clarifies the boundary line between mythical narrative and factual history presentedin the records. Anybody interested in role of Chan/Zen in Chinese society will want to read and digest the contents of this book. --Steven Heine, author of Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters<br>

Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati is a much needed and very readable work that presents a rich and multifaceted picture of the development of Chan and significantly advances our understanding of it. It is a must-read for every scholar interested in Chinese Buddhism. I will also be highly useful in graduate seminars and even in upper-level undergraduate courses. --Journal of Chinese Religions Albert Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati critically examines the formation of Chan transmission records (denglu) that were produced in the Song period. By demonstrating the degree to which the Chan narrative was shaped by considerations of court and literati patronage, his analysis lays bare the process by which the Chan tradition constructed some of its central myths. His study joins a distinguished list of critical studies that open a window on the historical reality of the Chan tradition.--Daniel A. Getz, Jr., co-editor of Buddhism in the Sung This is a fascinating and very important study of the history of the development of the Chan/Zen monastic institution as seen through a careful reading of the denglu or transmission records. While other books have examined the institution or the literary texts of Chan, this is the very first work in English to provide a socio-political historical account based on a group of writings that is crucial for understanding how Chan Buddhism took hold and became the dominant religious movement in the Song dynasty. Welter explores in detail which monks were responsible for the spread and how and why they garnered support from public officials and literati, and clarifies the boundary line between mythical narrative and factual history presented in the records. Anybody interested in role of Chan/Zen in Chinese society will want to read and digest the contents of this book. --Steven Heine, author of Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati is a much needed and very readable work that presents a rich and multifaceted picture of the development of Chan and significantly advances our understanding of it. It is a must-read for every scholar interested in Chinese Buddhism. --Journal of Chinese Religions Albert Welter's Monks, Rulers, and Literati critically examines the formation of Chan transmission records (denglu) that were produced in the Song period. By demonstrating the degree to which the Chan narrative was shaped by considerations of court and literati patronage, his analysis lays bare the process by which the Chan tradition constructed some of its central myths. His study joins a distinguished list of critical studies that open a window on the historical reality of the Chan tradition.--Daniel A. Getz, Jr., co-editor of Buddhism in the Sung This is a fascinating and very important study of the history of the development of the Chan/Zen monastic institution as seen through a careful reading of the denglu or transmission records. While other books have examined the institution or the literary texts of Chan, this is the very first work in English to provide a socio-political historical account based on a group of writings that is crucial for understanding how Chan Buddhism took hold and became the dominant religious movement in the Song dynasty. Welter explores in detail which monks were responsible for the spread and how and why they garnered support from public officials and literati, and clarifies the boundary line between mythical narrative and factual history presented in the records. Anybody interested in role of Chan/Zen in Chinese society will want to read and digest the contents of this book. --Steven Heine, author of Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters Welter's book is masterful in its handling of complex textual materials by a seasoned scholar who is very reasonable is his overall approach to critical analysis by not commenting or passing judgement in a way that would tend to diminish the value of the tradition --Steven Haine, Florida International University Welter's book is masterful in its handling of complex textual materials by a seasoned scholar who is very reasonable in his overall approach to critical analysis by not commenting or passing judgement in a way tha twould tend to diminish the value of the tradition. --Steven Heine, Florida International University

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Albert Welter is Professor of Asian Religions at the University of Winnipeg in Canada. He is the author of The Meaning of Myriad Good Deeds: A Study of Yung-Ming Yen-Shou and the Wan-Shan T'ung-Kuei Chi (1994).

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