Metamorphosis of Buddhism in China’s New Era

Yoshiko Ashiwa is Visiting Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Hitotsubashi University, Japan. David Wank is Visiting Researcher at the Oriental Library and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Sophia University, Japan. Ji Zhe is Professor of Sociology at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) and Director of The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on Buddhism (CEIB), France.

• 1. Metamorphosis of Buddhism in New Era China: Framework of the Analysis Yoshiko Ashiwa, David L. Wank, and Ji Zhe2. Theravada Meditation in Modern Chinese Buddhism with a Focus on Mahasati Dynamic Vipassana¯ in Shifo Temple. Ester Bianchi3. Taixu’s Vision of a World Buddhist Academy in New Era China: Discourses, Designs, Realities Yoshiko Ashiwa and David L. Wank4. Vinaya and Volunteers: Updating Tradition and Initiating Change at Pushou Temple Amandine Péronnet5. In the Name of “Wushu Chan”: Reinventing Chan Buddhist Meditative Traditions in Shaolin Temple Lufeng Xu6. Innovations in Lay Buddhist Education in the Sinophone Tibetan Buddhist Milieu: The Rise of the Larung Textual Community Catherine Hardie7. Saving the Aborted Fetus Spirit, Saving the World: Agencies, Varieties, and Implications of a Ritual Invention Ji Zhe8. Buddhist Temple as a Social Abstraction: An Analysis of Nunnery Relocation in Shanghai Weishan Huang9. Blurring the Religious and Secular Spaces: The Development of the Famen Temple Buddha Cultural Scenic Area Uchralt Otehode and Paul J. Farrelly10. Combining Meanings in the Popular Realm: Buddhist and Governmental Engagements in a Syncretic “Scenic Area” Guillaume Dutournier11. Chinese Buddhism in the Global Market: Analysis of the Xiamen International Buddhist Items & Crafts Fair Yoshiko Ashiwa and David L. Wank

This is an exceptional study of Buddhism’s evolution in China as the twenty-first century unfolds. Filled with rich case studies from accomplished experts in the field, it shows how the religion continues to adapt in creative and unexpected ways to both the evolution of state policies and continuing social change.