Barrett, T.H. (2022) 'Posthumous Conversions of Confucians: A Zen Case Study from Song China to Modern Japan.' In: Jones, C. V., (ed.), Buddhism and Its Religious Others: Historical Encounters and Representations. Oxford: British Academy, pp. 210-224. (Proceedings of the British Academy, no. 243)
Abstract
Neo-Confucians (to use the Western term) claimed to make East Asian Buddhism redundant by showing that Chinese traditions of thought offered better solutions to the human condition than Buddhism, yet the suspicion remained that they were themselves influenced by Buddhist ideas. Thus, for example, Buddhists claimed that figures associated with Neo-Confucianism had learned from, or become, Buddhists themselves. Among the earliest such figures was Li Ao (c. 772-836). His supposed allegiance to Buddhism is reaffirmed in the work of the Japanese Zen teacher Imakita Kōsen (1816-1892), whose writings remain in circulation to this day. Tracing the way in which Li’s case was deployed in Imakita’s and earlier Buddhist works, so that his name is still associated with Buddhism on the internet today, illustrates the strength of this particular polemical tactic.
| Item Type: | Book Chapters |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Buddhism, Chinese religion, Japanese religion, Li Ao, Imakita Kōsen, Buddhist polemics, Neo-Confucianism, Zen |
| SOAS Departments & Centres: | Departments and Subunits > School of History, Religions & Philosophies Departments and Subunits > School of History, Religions & Philosophies > Department of Religions & Philosophies |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BQ Buddhism |
| ISBN: | 9780197266991 |
| DOI (Digital Object Identifier): | https://doi.org/10.5871/bacad/9780197266991.003.0011 |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Mar 2025 14:20 |
| URI: | https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/43606 |
| Funders: | British Academy |
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