Rennyo is undeniably one of the most influential persons in the history of Japanese religion and yet his thought remains somewhat enigmatic from the standpoint of what is considered orthodox Shinshu doctrine today. This book, which collects ten unpublished essays by both Japanese and non-Japanese scholars, will be the first to confront many of the major questions surrounding the phenomenal growth of Honganji under Rennyo's leadership, such as the source of his charisma, the soteriological implications of his thought against the background of other movements in Pure Land Buddhism, and the relationship between his ideas and the growth of his church. The volume is intended as an important first step in expanding the field of Rennyo studies outside Japan, and to provide significant stimulus to the fields of Japanese religion, Japanese social history, comparative religion, and sociology of religion.
Reviews
This an excellent addition to scholarship on Japanese Buddism. * The Middle Way, Journal of the Buddhist Society *
Rennyo and the Roots of Modern Japanese Buddhism makes an excellent contribution to Rennyo and Shinshu studies in English, adding necessary complexity to the existing literature. One hopes that it will also spur a new generation of scholars to take up these questions in depth and publish their findings. * Carol Richmond Tsang, Monumenta Nipponica *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195132755
Author Mark L. Blum
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 644g
Dimensions(mm) 152mm * 229mm * 22mm