Observances, Feasts, and Scripts : The Varieties of Zhai in Chinese Buddhism from the Second to the Tenth Century

Language: English

Published by University Of Hawai'i Press Feb 2026, 2026

9798880702428

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Seller: AHA-BUCH GmbH, Einbeck, GermanyAHA-BUCH GmbH

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Neuware - Observances, Feasts, and Scripts is the first monograph written in English to offer a comprehensive analysis of the varieties of zhai, a multifaceted term with deep historical and religious significance in Chinese Buddhism. Drawing on a wide array of sourcesincluding canonical texts, apocryphal writings, hagiographies, and ritual documentsthis book unveils zhai as a ritual complex encompassing temporary observances, communal feasts, and modes of interaction between the seen and unseen realms. These practices, rooted in both lay and monastic traditions, illustrate the intricate interplay between food, community, and ritual in Indian and Chinese Buddhism. Part I traces how Indian Buddhist temporary observances were adapted, debated, and reimagined in the Chinese context. Part II explains the sponsored feast as a mechanism for lay-monastic interaction and merit-making. It also examines how Buddhists engaged with deities and spirit saints through remote invitations and ritual offerings. Part III focuses on 'scripts' used for receiving the Eightfold Observance and conducting sponsored feasts, thus revealing their evolution from simple master-disciple interactions to complex communal events. Observances, Feasts, and Scripts is an essential resource for scholars interested in food-related religious practices and the history of Buddhism. Through its meticulous examination of Chinese, Pali, Sanskrit, and Tibetan materials, the book offers a fresh perspective on Chinese Buddhism as an intercultural endeavor. It sheds light on relevant scholastic debates, the creation of apocrypha, translation strategies, and ritual innovations in medieval China. By moving beyond teleological frameworks such as Sinicization, it emphasizes the agency of cultural, doctrinal, and social factors in shaping these practices. Additionally, it engages with the cognitive dimensions of ritual and highlights ritual logic as a cross-cultural analytical lens.

Seller Inventory # 9798880702428

Title
Observances, Feasts, and Scripts : The Varieties of Zhai in Chinese Buddhism from the Second to the Tenth Century
Author
Yi Ding
Publisher
University Of Hawai'i Press Feb 2026
Publication year
2026
Condition
Neu
Binding
Buch
Language
English
ISBN 13
9798880702428
Item weight
608 grams
Dimensions
238x161x27 mm

AHA-BUCH GmbH

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