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Dealing with Childbirth in Medieval Chinese Buddhism: Discourses and Practices=中古中國佛教裡的產孕之道 : 觀念論述與歷史實踐
Author Lin, Hsin-Yi=林欣儀
Date2017.08.18
Pages320
PublisherColumbia University Press
Publisher Url https://cup.columbia.edu/
LocationNew York, NY, US [紐約, 紐約州, 美國]
Content type博碩士論文=Thesis and Dissertation
Language英文=English
Degreedoctor
InstitutionColumbia University
DepartmentEast Asian Languages and Cultures
AdvisorFaure, Bernard
Publication year2017
AbstractIn Buddhism birth is regarded as the origin of suffering and impurity, whereas it also forms the physical basis indispensible for seeking and attaining awakening. Birth is both the starting points of incuring defilement and achieving sanctity. Pointing out this paradox on birth in Buddhism and situating the issue within the context of Chinese religion and history, this dissertation extensively investigates Buddhist discourses and practices of reproduction in medieval China. It anwsers how Buddhist discourses and practices of childbirth were
transmitted, transformed, and applied in medieval China, and how they interacted with indigenous healing resources and practices in both Chinese religious and medical realms. Through examining the primary sources such as the excavated Day Books (Chapter One), Buddhist hagiographies (Chapter Two), Buddhist obstetric and embryological discourses (Chapter Three and Four) and healing resources preserved in Tripiṭaka and Dunhuang manuscripts, Dunhuang transformation texts and tableaux, and miracle tales and anecdote literature (Chapter Three, Four and Five), I argue that not only was there a paradoxical dualism at the heart of Buddhism's relationship with reproduction, but also Buddhism provides abundant healing resources for dealing with childbirth on the practical level. Overall I contend that Buddhist healing resources for childbirth served as an effective channel through which Buddhist teaching, worldview and concepts of gender and body were conveyed to its supplicants. Through this investigation, this dissertation contributes to the understanding of the association of Buddhism with medicine, the influence of Buddhist discourses and practices of reproduction on China, and the transmission of Buddhist views of gender, the body, and life to China through its healing activities related to childbirth.
Table of contentsList of Figures iv
Acknowledgements vi
Introduction 1
Buddhism and Childbirth: A Few Cases 1
Key Issues: Buddhist Healing, Indigenous Religions, and Gender 8
Some More Questions 12
Buddhism and Reproduction in China: Approaches and Sources 13
Dissertation Outline 16
Chpater One
Time and Space, Divination and Taboos: Reproduction under Ancient Chinese Correlative Cosmology 21
Divination and Taboos: Daily Practices on Childbirth in the Day Books 25
Human Reproduction as a Representation of Cosmic Creation 45
Han literati's Writings on Childbirth: the Theory of Qi Transformation and the Reproductive Customs 50
Divination and Taboos in the Medical Works 57
Conclusion 60
Chapter Two
Sacred Birth: Reproductive Scenes in Chinese Buddhist Hagiographies 62
Māyā's Pregnancy: Dohada and Magical Healing Power 68
Other Aspects of Māyā's Pregnancy: Dreams, Purity, and Auspicious Signs 73
Chinese Buddhist Representations of Māyā's Pregnancy and the Buddha's Birth 80
Chinese Buddhist Hagiography: Eminent Monks and Nuns’ Birth Scenes 94
Conclusion 109
Appendix: Reproductive Scenes of Māyā and the Buddha in Dunhuang 114
Chpater Three
The Origin of Suffering: Buddhist Obstetrics, Birth Duḥkha, and Filial Piety 122
From Indian Medicine to "Buddhist Medicine" 129
"Buddhist Obstetrics" 135
Birth Duḥkha: "Buddhist Embryology" 144
Birth Duḥkha and Filial Piety in Medieval China 150
Conclusion 178
Chapter Four
Dealing with Childbirth in Medieval Chinese Buddhism: Canonical Sources 180
Treating Infertility and Seeking Conception 183
Pregnancy Care 186
Difficult Birth 189
Postnatal Care for Mothers and Newborns 200
Miscarriage and Abortion 208
Conclusion 223
Chapter Five
Dealing with Childbirth in Medieval Chinese Buddhism: Historical and Archeological Sources 226
Treating Childbirth with Incantations, Talismans and Seals 235
Protective Goddesses for Childbirth: Avalokiteśvara, Hārītī, and Bāla-grahā 255
Praying for Birth: Liturgy, Sūtra-Copying and Others 277
Treating Childbirth with Dharmic Medicine and by Monks: Cases from Hagiographies, Miracle Tales and Literati's Notes 292
Epilogue 304
Reproduction in Religion and Medicine 304
Reproduction in Medieval Chinese Buddhism and Religious Medicine 312
Rethinking Female Reproductive Pollution in Chinese Buddhism 314
Bibliography 316
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7916/D8BK1QRX
Hits685
Created date2020.09.09
Modified date2021.12.11



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