{"product_id":"the-impact-of-buddhism-on-chinese-material-culture-buddhisms-a-princeton-university-press-series","title":"The Impact of Buddhism on Chinese Material Culture (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series)","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the first century  when Buddhism entered China  the foreign religion shaped Chinese philosophy  beliefs  and ritual. At the same time  Buddhism had a profound effect on the material world of the Chinese. This wide-ranging study shows that Buddhism brought with it a vast array of objects big and small--relics treasured as parts of the body of the Buddha  prayer beads  and monastic clothing--as well as new ideas about what objects could do and how they should be treated. Kieschnick argues that even some everyday objects not ordinarily associated with Buddhism--bridges  tea  and the chair--on closer inspection turn out to have been intimately tied to Buddhist ideas and practices. Long after Buddhism ceased to be a major force in India  it continued to influence the development of material culture in China  as it does to the present day.  At first glance  this seems surprising. Many Buddhist scriptures and thinkers rejected the material world or even denied its existence with great enthusiasm and sophistication. Others  however  from Buddhist philosophers to ordinary devotees  embraced objects as a means of expressing religious sentiments and doctrines. What was a sad sign of compromise and decline for some was seen as strength and versatility by others. Yielding rich insights through its innovative analysis of particular types of objects  this briskly written book is the first to systematically examine the ambivalent relationship  in the Chinese context  between Buddhism and material culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44952322703413,"sku":"ByrdShop_0691096767","price":33.44,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780691096766.jpg?v=1770159626","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-impact-of-buddhism-on-chinese-material-culture-buddhisms-a-princeton-university-press-series","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}