Meir Shahar

Ming-Period Evidence of Shaolin Martial Practice

T HE Shaolin J/t Monastery is arguably one of the most famous Buddhist temples worldwide. The reason lies not in the scholarly achievements of its resident monks, nor even in the traditions associating it with Bodhidharma (Damo 4)*), legendary founder of the Chan school. Rather, Shaolins fame rests on the martial arts, for many traditions of Chinese fighting consider this monastery their birthplace. The twentieth century has witnessed a fascinating cultural exchange, as Chinese fighting techniques have enjoyed increasing popularity in the West. Featuring a unique mixture of military, therapeutic, and religious goals, these martial arts spread Shaolins renown among large populations, which are not necessarily familiar with the Buddhist faith. Is the fame enjoyed by the Shaolin monastery justified? Did its monks ever practice the martial arts? Could they have ignored the Buddhist prohibition of violence? Did Shaolins geographic, economic, or social environment prompt their violation-if such ever

India in the Chinese Imagination: Myth, Religion, and Thought

India and China dominate the Asian continent but are separated by formidable geographic barriers and language differences. For many centuries, most of the information that passed between the two lands came through Silk Route intermediaries in lieu of first-person encounters-leaving considerable room for invention. From their introduction to Indian culture in the first centuries C.E., Chinese thinkers, writers, artists, and architects imitated India within their own borders, giving Indian images and ideas new forms and adapting them to their own culture. Yet Indias impact on China has not been greatly researched or well understood. India in the Chinese Imagination takes a new look at the ways the Chinese embedded India in diverse artifacts of Chinese religious, cultural, artistic, and material life in the premodern era. Leading Asian studies scholars explore the place of Indian myths and storytelling in Chinese literature, how Chinese authors integrated Indian history into their conception of the political and religious past, and the philosophical relationships between Indian Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, and Daoism. This multifaceted volume, illustrated with over a dozen works of art, reveals the depth and subtlety of the encounter between India and China, shedding light on what it means to imagine another culture-and why it matters. Contributors: Stephen R. Bokenkamp, Bernard Faure, John Kieschnick, Victor H. Mair, John R. McRae, Christine Mollier, Meir Shahar, Robert H. Sharf, Nobuyoshi Yamabe, Ye Derong, Shi Zhiru.

Chinese and Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism

Chinese and Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism presents cutting-edge research and unfolds the sweeping impact of esoteric Buddhism on Tibetan and Chinese cultures, and the movements role in forging distinct political, ethnical, and religious identities across Asia at large.