Tibetan Renaissance

Tantric Buddhism in the Rebirth of Tibetan Culture

Nonfiction, History, Asian, Asia, Religion & Spirituality, Eastern Religions, Buddhism
Cover of the book Tibetan Renaissance by Ronald Davidson, Columbia University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Ronald Davidson ISBN: 9780231508896
Publisher: Columbia University Press Publication: September 21, 2005
Imprint: Columbia University Press Language: English
Author: Ronald Davidson
ISBN: 9780231508896
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Publication: September 21, 2005
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Language: English

How did a society on the edge of collapse and dominated by wandering bands of armed men give way to a vibrant Buddhist culture, led by yogins and scholars? Ronald M. Davidson explores how the translation and spread of esoteric Buddhist texts dramatically shaped Tibetan society and led to its rise as the center of Buddhist culture throughout Asia, replacing India as the perceived source of religious ideology and tradition. During the Tibetan Renaissance (950-1200 C.E.), monks and yogins translated an enormous number of Indian Buddhist texts. They employed the evolving literature and practices of esoteric Buddhism as the basis to reconstruct Tibetan religious, cultural, and political institutions. Many translators achieved the de facto status of feudal lords and while not always loyal to their Buddhist vows, these figures helped solidify political power in the hands of religious authorities and began a process that led to the Dalai Lama's theocracy. Davidson's vivid portraits of the monks, priests, popular preachers, yogins, and aristocratic clans who changed Tibetan society and culture further enhance his perspectives on the tensions and transformations that characterized medieval Tibet.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

How did a society on the edge of collapse and dominated by wandering bands of armed men give way to a vibrant Buddhist culture, led by yogins and scholars? Ronald M. Davidson explores how the translation and spread of esoteric Buddhist texts dramatically shaped Tibetan society and led to its rise as the center of Buddhist culture throughout Asia, replacing India as the perceived source of religious ideology and tradition. During the Tibetan Renaissance (950-1200 C.E.), monks and yogins translated an enormous number of Indian Buddhist texts. They employed the evolving literature and practices of esoteric Buddhism as the basis to reconstruct Tibetan religious, cultural, and political institutions. Many translators achieved the de facto status of feudal lords and while not always loyal to their Buddhist vows, these figures helped solidify political power in the hands of religious authorities and began a process that led to the Dalai Lama's theocracy. Davidson's vivid portraits of the monks, priests, popular preachers, yogins, and aristocratic clans who changed Tibetan society and culture further enhance his perspectives on the tensions and transformations that characterized medieval Tibet.

More books from Columbia University Press

Cover of the book Adventures of the Symbolic by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book The Sensual God by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Developing Practice Guidelines for Social Work Intervention by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Chow Chop Suey by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Humans, Beasts, and Ghosts by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book The Origins of Schizophrenia by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book The Song of Everlasting Sorrow by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Mouthfeel by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Azaleas by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book The Political Impossibility of Modern Counterinsurgency by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Parable and Politics in Early Islamic History by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Contemporary Japanese Thought by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Harvey's Views on the Use of the Circulation of the Blood by Ronald Davidson
Cover of the book Avant-Garde Film by Ronald Davidson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy