The Weaving of Mantra - Softcover

9780231112871: The Weaving of Mantra
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
The great Buddhist priest Kűkai (774-835) is credited with the introduction and establishment of tantric -or esoteric -Buddhism in early ninth-century Japan. In Ryűichi Abé examines this important religious figure -neglected in modern academic literature -and his profound influence on Japanese culture. Offering a radically new approach to the study of early religious history -combining historical research, discourse analysis, literary criticism, and semiology -Abé contends that the importance of Kűkai´s transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay not in the foundation of a new sect but in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra. embeds Kűkai within the fabric of political and social life in ninth-century Japan and explains how esoteric Buddhism played a crucial role in many societal changes in Japan -from the growth of monasteries into major feudal powers to the formation of the native phonetic alphabet, kana. As Abé illustrates, Kűkai´s writings and the new type of discourse they spawned also marked Japan´s transition from the ancient order to the medieval world, replacing Confucianism as the ideology of the state. Abé begins by placing Kűkai´s life in the historical context of medieval Japan and the Ritsuryo state, then explores his interaction with the Nara Buddhist intelligentsia, which was seminal to the introduction of esoteric Buddhism. The author discusses Kűkai´s magnum opus, () and introduces a number of Japanese and Chinese primary-source texts previously unknown by Western-language scholars. Instead of tracing Kűkai´s thought through literal readings, explores the rhetorical strategies Kűkai employed in his works, shedding valuable light on what his texts meant to his readers and what his goals were in creating a discourse that ultimately transformed Japanese culture.
The great Buddhist priest Kűkai (774-835) is credited with the introduction and establishment of tantric―or esoteric―Buddhism in early ninth-century Japan. In The Weaving of Mantra, Ryűichi Abé examines this important religious figure―neglected in modern academic literature―and his profound influence on Japanese culture. Offering a radically new approach to the study of early religious history―combining historical research, discourse analysis, literary criticism, and semiology―Abé contends that the importance of Kűkai's transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay not in the foundation of a new sect but in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra.

The Weaving of Mantra embeds Kűkai within the fabric of political and social life in ninth-century Japan and explains how esoteric Buddhism played a crucial role in many societal changes in Japan―from the growth of monasteries into major feudal powers to the formation of the native phonetic alphabet, kana. As Abé illustrates, Kűkai's writings and the new type of discourse they spawned also marked Japan's transition from the ancient order to the medieval world, replacing Confucianism as the ideology of the state.

Abé begins by placing Kűkai's life in the historical context of medieval Japan and the Ritsuryo state, then explores his interaction with the Nara Buddhist intelligentsia, which was seminal to the introduction of esoteric Buddhism. The author discusses Kűkai's magnum opus, Ten Abiding Stages on the Secret Mandalas (Himitsu mandara jujushinron) and introduces a number of Japanese and Chinese primary-source texts previously unknown by Western-language scholars. Instead of tracing Kűkai's thought through literal readings, The Weaving of Mantra explores the rhetorical strategies Kűkai employed in his works, shedding valuable light on what his texts meant to his readers and what his goals were in creating a discourse that ultimately transformed Japanese culture.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Book Description:
Ryűichi Abé presents the most thorough and innovative study to date on the Buddhist figure Kűkai (774 - 835)―one that constitutes a radically different approach to the research on early Japanese religious history. Kűkai is generally credited with the formal establishment of tantric―or esoteric―Buddhism in Japan and as the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism. Abé contends that the importance of Kűkai's transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay not in the foundation of a new sect but in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra.
From the Back Cover:
The great Buddhist priest Kukai (774-835) introduced and established tantric -- or esoteric -- Buddhism in early ninth-century Japan. Ryuichi Abe examines this momentous religious figure and his profound influence on Japanese culture. Offering a radically new approach to the study of early religious history that combines historical research, discourse analysis, literary criticism, and semiology, Abe contends that the importance of Kukai's transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay less in the foundation of a new sect than in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra. Exploring the rich rhetorical strategies Kukai employed in his works, The Weaving of Mantra illuminates both what his texts meant to his readers and what goals guided the creation of a powerful discourse that ultimately transformed Japanese culture.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Seller Image

Abe, Ryuichi
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Softcover Quantity: 5
Seller:
GreatBookPrices
(Columbia, MD, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 485889-n

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 47.66
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Ryuichi Aband#233;
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New PAP Quantity: 2
Seller:
PBShop.store US
(Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.)

Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # WI-9780231112871

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 50.31
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Abe, Ry?ichi
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Paperback or Softback Quantity: 5
Seller:
BargainBookStores
(Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback or Softback. Condition: New. The Weaving of Mantra: The Young Pioneers, Radical Summer Camps, and Communist Political Culture in the United States 1.82. Book. Seller Inventory # BBS-9780231112871

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 59.85
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

AbĂŠ, RyĂťichi", "Ab&#233, Ry&#251ichi"
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Soft Cover Quantity: 10
Seller:
booksXpress
(Bayonne, NJ, U.S.A.)

Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780231112871

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 63.20
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Ryuichi Ab?
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:

Book Description Condition: New. Examines the Buddhist priest Kukai's influence on Japanese culture. This book contends that the importance of Kukai's transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra. It explores the rhetorical strategies Kukai employed in his works. Num Pages: 620 pages, 5 photos. BIC Classification: 1FPJ; HRAX; HRE; HRLP1. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 254 x 159 x 33. Weight in Grams: 862. . 2000. Revised ed. Paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # V9780231112871

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 52.42
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 11.35
From Ireland to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Ryuichi Abé
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New paperback Quantity: 10
Seller:
Blackwell's
(Oxford, OX, United Kingdom)

Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9780231112871

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 58.48
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 5.68
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Abe, Ryuichi
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Softcover Quantity: 5
Seller:
GreatBookPricesUK
(Castle Donington, DERBY, United Kingdom)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 485889-n

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 45.93
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 18.93
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Ryuichi Abe
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Paperback / softback Quantity: 3
Seller:
THE SAINT BOOKSTORE
(Southport, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Examines the Buddhist priest Kukai's influence on Japanese culture. This book contends that the importance of Kukai's transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra. It explores the rhetorical strategies Kukai employed in his works. Seller Inventory # B9780231112871

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 56.06
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 11.29
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Abé, Ryűichi; Abé, Ryűichi
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GF Books, Inc.
(Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Book is in NEW condition. Seller Inventory # 0231112874-2-1

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 67.86
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Abé, Ryűichi; Abé, Ryűichi
Published by Columbia University Press (2000)
ISBN 10: 0231112874 ISBN 13: 9780231112871
New Softcover Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Lucky's Textbooks
(Dallas, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # ABLIING23Feb2215580075300

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 66.37
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

There are more copies of this book

View all search results for this book