The Buddhist Conquest of China: The Spread and Adaptation of Buddhism in Early Medieval ChinaThe Buddhist Conquest of China: The Spread and Adaptation of Buddhism in Early Medieval China

The book begins with methodological remarks on “Chinese Buddhism,” “gentry Buddhism,” the educated clergy, and the early historical, biographical, apologetic, and propagandistic sources used for the study. Chapter Two surveys Buddhism from the first century to the beginning of the fourth century, covering Han Buddhism, the Three Kingdoms, the Western Jin, early translators such as An Shigao, Lokakṣema, Kang Senghui, and Dharmarakṣa, as well as the gradual formation of elite Buddhist circles. Chapter Three studies Buddhism at Jiankang and in the South-East from around 320 to 420, including the Eastern Jin political environment, Zhi Dun, monastic communities, court Buddhism, and controversies over the autonomy of the saṅgha. Chapter Four examines the Buddhist centers at Xiangyang, Jiangling, and Lu Shan, especially Dao’an, Huiyuan, devotional practice, Amitābha worship, translation activity, vinaya, abhidharma, and the status of the Buddhist community. Chapter Five analyzes anti-clericalism and Buddhist apologetics, including political, economic, utilitarian, cultural, and moral criticisms of Buddhism and Buddhist counter-arguments. Chapter Six discusses the early history of Buddho-Daoist conflict through the huahu theory, the Huahu jing, Buddhist responses, and reinterpretations of Chinese cultural figures within Buddhist discourse. The volume also includes prefaces, a foreword to the third edition, bibliography, extensive notes, indexes, additions and corrections, and five historical maps.