Encyclopedia of Buddhism

The editors describe the encyclopedia as an attempt to address a recurring problem in Buddhist Studies: the absence of a single-volume reference work that combines breadth, scholarly reliability, accessibility, and up-to-date coverage. The work is therefore intended not merely to define Buddhist terminology but to guide readers through the complexity of Buddhist history, thought, literature, and practice.

The encyclopedia organizes its subject matter around several major domains: Buddhist history; major Buddhist traditions and schools; significant persons; canons, texts, and literature; concepts and ideas; rituals and customs; sacred places; and the Buddhist diaspora and modern world. Longer survey entries provide conceptual frameworks, while shorter entries address more specialized figures, doctrines, texts, institutions, and practices.

A notable feature is its broad geographical scope. Buddhism is treated not as a monolithic tradition but as a network of historically interconnected traditions extending from India to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, and eventually Europe and North America. Contemporary subjects—including Buddhist engagement with society, technology, gender, ecology, and Western culture—are also incorporated.

Particularly useful is the encyclopedia’s thematic architecture. In addition to the alphabetical entries, readers are provided with a chronology of Buddhist history, a list of entries organized by major topic, a pronunciation guide, a guide to Buddhist scriptures, references for further reading, and an analytical index. Cross-references connect shorter entries to broader survey articles, enabling the work to function both as an introductory reference and as a research tool.

The encyclopedia therefore presents Buddhism as a historically evolving and internally diverse religious tradition, while maintaining sufficient scholarly depth for students, researchers, and readers seeking a structured overview of Buddhist Studies.