Buddhism and tales of the supernatural in early medieval China : : a study of Liu Yiqing's (403-444) Youming lu / / Zhenjun Zhang.

• Superior document: Sinica Leidensia, Volume 114
• VerfasserIn: Zhang, Zhenjun,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, Netherlands : : Brill,, 2014.; ©2014
• Year of Publication: 2014
• Language: English
• Series: Sinica Leidensia ; Volume 114.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (277 p.)
• Notes: Revised version of the author's dissertation (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007).

This book demonstrates the historical changes in early medieval China as seen in the tales of the supernatural—thematic transformation from traditional demonic retribution to Karmic retribution, from indigenous Chinese netherworld to Buddhist concepts of hell, and from the traditional Chinese savior to a new savior, Buddha. It also examines Buddhist imagery and the flourish of new motifs in the fantastic dreamworld and their relationship with Buddhism. This study relates the Youming lu to the development of popular Chinese Buddhist beliefs, attempting to single out ideas that differ from the beliefs found in Buddhist scriptures as well as miraculous tales written especially to promote Buddhism.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material -- Introduction -- 1. Liu Yiqing’s World and the Youming lu -- 2. Backgrounds of the Buddhist Coloring in the Youming lu -- 3. Historical Thematic Changes under the Impact of Buddhism in EarlyMedieval China as Seen in the Youming lu -- 4. Buddhist Imagery in Early Medieval China as Seen in the Youming lu -- 5. A Fantastic Dream World: New Literary Motifs and Buddhist Culture -- Concluding Remarks -- Table of Numbers & Pages of Selected Tales in the Major Sources -- Bibliography -- Index.