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Book Review: "Spells, Images, and Mandalas: Tracing The Evolution of Esoteric Buddhist Rituals," by Koichi Shinohara
Author Balkwill, Stephanie
Source Religious Studies Review
Volumev.42 n.1
Date2016.03.30
Pages60
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
Publisher Url http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
LocationOxford, UK [牛津, 英國]
Content type期刊論文=Journal Article; 書評=Book Review
Language英文=English
NoteSpells, Images, and Mandalas: Tracing The Evolution of Esoteric Buddhist Rituals. By Koichi Shinohara. Columbia University Press, August 5, 2014. 352 pages. ISBN-10: 0231166141 ISBN-13: 978-0231166140
AbstractAn important book by the right person, this study illuminates the rather arcane history of the development of the Buddhist esoteric ritual tradition from simple spells of a worldly nature, through the incorporation of image worship, and eventually to the utilization of complex visualizations. By focusing on early texts preserved in Chinese translation, Shinohara, in his own words, counters past scholarship which, “so far has privileged the Mahāvairocana and Vajraśekhara sūtras.” In so doing, his study stands as a model for the field for how to sensibly employ Chinese sources in the study of concepts, texts, and practices of Indic origin. Shinohara's study concentrates on describing precisely how esoteric rituals developed, and as such leaves little room for explaining why. Indeed, readers may be left curious as to what larger social, political, and economic forces may have supported the increasing intricacy and pomp of esoteric ritual, a topic not dealt with in the book though surely within the grasp of the author. Spells, Images, and Maṇḍalas should be considered a seminal work; by wading through a trove of difficult textual material, Shinohara has set a new standard for the study of esoteric ritual and has laid the necessary groundwork for future studies to be able to engage with the wider social context of the larger esoteric tradition.
ISSN0319485X (P); 17480922 (E)
DOI10.1111/rsr.12368_1
Hits89
Created date2017.04.12
Modified date2019.11.25



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