This seminal study of the religious and economic history of Buddhism by
the premier French sinologue has for decades been considered an
unsurpassed classic. Here, for the first time, it is available to
English-language readers in an updated edition. The fifth through tenth
centuries were the period of the greatest expansion of the Buddhist
Church in China. Monastic estates controlled a sizeable share of the
economy, owning a considerable amount of land and agricultural and
manufacturing enterprises. Gernet examines the religious and economic
aspects of the society dominated by this power, and explores the
Church's effect on Chinese thought and culture. A much broader
historical overview than many works that discuss the economic
intricacies of Buddhism in China, Buddhism in Chinese Society
interweaves an understanding of social and political organization,
Buddhist religious philosophy and doctrine, legal tenets, customs of the
day, and many other significant layers of Chinese culture. Drawing
largely upon primary sources - from the work of official Chinese
historians to the writings of Buddhist monks - Gernet demonstrates the
far-reaching influence of Buddhism on the economic development of China
during a time when the religion was growing at an unprecedented rate
among all levels of society. Buddhism in Chinese Society looks at state
and imperial policy but also delves into the lives of villagers far away
from the major centers of religious and economic power. Translated and
revised by respected scholar of Chinese religions Franciscus Verellen,
who has worked closely with Gernet, this edition includes new
references, an extensive, up-to-date bibliography, and a comprehensive
index.
