Buddhist Transformations and Interactions

One of the greatest scholars of Chinese and Japanese Buddhist history was Antonino Forte (1940–2006), who was Director of the Italian School of Oriental (later East Asian) Studies in Kyoto for many years. Professor Forte's approach to Buddhist Studies was like that of a detective attempting to solve a difficult case. He displayed his investigative skills in a series of important projects such as those in which he addressed the riddle of the origins of The Great Cloud Sutra, the mystery of Empress Wu's massive tower and astronomical clock, and the case of the Iranian prince held hostage at the Tang court. Few Buddhist historians have dedicated so much attention and energy to reading archaeological reports and even going into the field to carry out onsite investigations as Antonino Forte. The same data-driven spirit informs the chapters in this tome dedicated to Professor Forte’s legacy.

This volume is unusual in the way that it assembles the research of distinguished scholars from various fields and regions. One of the main themes that runs through Buddhist Transformations and Interactions is that of borders and their crossing. In very concrete ways, the individual chapters look at how Buddhism passed from India to Central Asia and China and Korea, and from China and Korea to Japan. But crossing is not merely geographical, hence cultural and doctrinal transformations and adaptations are also examined closely.

Offering a rare and rich assortment of cutting-edge Buddhological research on diverse topics, this study examines topics such as nirvana and maya, sacred sites, monastery origins, biographical writing, sectarianism in China and Japan, funeral rituals, miracle tales and strange stories, architecture, and lineage transmission. An attentive reading of Buddhist Transformations and Interactions will provide readers with a much better appreciation and understanding of East Asian Buddhism.

This book is a valuable resource for scholars and students in Asian studies, particularly Buddhist studies, history of religions, the history of East Asian art and archeology, textual analysis, South Asian studies, and Liao/Khitan studies.