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Relics of the Buddha Hardcover - 2004

Name: Relics of the Buddha (Buddhisms)
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Author: John S. Strong
ISBN: 9780691117645

by John S. Strong

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From the publisher

Buddhism is popularly seen as a religion stressing the truth of impermanence. How, then, to account for the long-standing veneration, in Asian Buddhist communities, of bone fragments, hair, teeth, and other bodily bits said to come from the historic Buddha? Early European and American scholars of religion, influenced by a characteristic Protestant bias against relic worship, declared such practices to be superstitious and fraudulent, and far from the true essence of Buddhism. John Strong's book, by contrast, argues that relic veneration has played a serious and integral role in Buddhist traditions in South and Southeast Asia-and that it is in no way foreign to Buddhism. The book is structured around the life story of the Buddha, starting with traditions about relics of previous buddhas and relics from the past lives of the Buddha Sakyamuni. It then considers the death of the Buddha, the collection of his bodily relics after his cremation, and stories of their spread to different parts of Asia. The book ends with a consideration of the legend of the future parinirvana (extinction) of the relics prior to the advent of the next Buddha, Maitreya. Throughout, the author does not hesitate to explore the many versions of these legends and to relate them to their ritual, doctrinal, artistic, and social contexts.

First line

IT IS CUSTOMARY to start works on Buddhist relics with an account of the Buddha's parinirvana and funeral, and the subsequent division of the remains of his body (see Altekar 1956; Benard 1988; Davids 1901; Fleet 1906-7; Heiler 1961: 1044; Wylie [1897] 1966).

From the rear cover

"The soundness of the scholarship is superb and wonderfully exemplary. Strong's firm command of the relevant sources, some very old and some very contemporary, is evident at every level and in every chapter of the book. The scholarly shelf life of this work will be enduring, chiefly because any future student or scholar hoping to conduct research can follow any of the myriad leads that Strong has provided."--John C. Holt, Bowdoin College

"This work is a major contribution to Buddhist studies and the study of religion. The comprehensive and innovative approach, its engaging accessibility, and the author's clear and elegant writing style, ensure that it will play a formative role in redefining how scholars and the general public think about Buddhism."--Kevin Trainor, University of Vermont

"Truly a masterpiece. John Strong takes up the paradigmatic theme in Buddhist thought and practice in a most seminal work certain to become a classic in the field. Strong's command of textual materials is highly impressive and his style of argumentation, like his writing, is highly engaging."--Juliane Schober, Arizona State University

Details

Title Relics of the Buddha
Author John S. Strong
Binding Hardcover
Pages 290
Volumes 1
Language ENG
Publisher Princeton University Press
Date 2004-08-15
Features Bibliography, Dust Cover, Index, Table of Contents
ISBN 9780691117645 / 0691117640
Weight 1.34 lbs (0.61 kg)
Dimensions 9.48 x 6.44 x 1 in (24.08 x 16.36 x 2.54 cm)
Themes
- Religious Orientation: Buddhist
Library of Congress subjects Gautama Buddha - Relics - South Asia, Gautama Buddha - Relics - Southeast Asia
Library of Congress Catalog Number 2003065642
Dewey Decimal Code 294.363

Media reviews

Citations

Choice, 02/01/2005, Page 1040

About the author

John S. Strong is Professor of Religion and Chair of the Religion and Philosophy Department at Bates College. He is the author of several books on Buddhism, including The Legend of King A?oka and The Legend and Cult of Upagupta (both from Princeton).

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Relics of the Buddha (Buddhisms)

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Princeton University Press, 2004-07-26. Hardcover. Used: Good. Excellent customer service. Prompt Customer Service.

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Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press. Good with no dust jacket. 2004. First Edition; Second Printing. Hardcover. 0691117640 . Xxii, 290, [i] pp. Bibliography, index. Illustrated with 3 tables. Octavo. Dark red cloth covers with gilt to the spine. Covers are clean and unmarked. Interior clean and unmarked, last page of index has a slight wrinkle at the bottom margin, book opens flat the title page but is still sturdy. A usable copy. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 290 pages .

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Hardback. New. Buddhism is seen as a religion stressing the truth of impermanence. How, then, to account for the long-standing veneration, in Asian Buddhist communities, of bone fragments, and other bodily bits said to come from the historic Buddha? This book argues that relic veneration has played an integral role in Buddhist traditions in Southeast Asia.