The Karma of Words

Buddhism and the Literary Arts in Medieval Japan

William R. LaFleur

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9780520056220
• eBook ISBN: 9780520342675
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: European Medieval History
• Index: History

"A masterly book... will prove of great assistance to a student of Japanese literature and thought from the eleventh century onwards." --Times Literary Supplement "A major contribution to the fields of Japanese studies, comparative literature, and history of religions... a book that begs for classroom use." --The Eastern Buddhist "Innovative and provocative... will be of interest not only to specialists in Japanese religion and Japanese culture, but also to literary critics and cultural historians." --Religious Studies Review "Rich and stimulating material... an important help and influence to all concerned with understanding the tradition that has shaped Japanese culture and religion." --History of Religions "Thought provoking, finely written... one of the more original and creative contributions to the study of medieval culture and religion to be produced by a Western scholar.... Can be read with profit by all Western students of Japanese culture... one of those rare books that has something to offer Japanese specialists in medieval studies." --Journal of Japanese Studies "A very important contribution to Japanese studies... a paradigm of the genre." --Pacific Affairs "This is an exciting, ground-breaking book." --Chanoyu Quarterly "I have been most impressed and even excited by what I have read." --Donald Keene, Professor Emeritus and Shincho Professor Emeritus of Japanese Literature at Columbia University "This is one of the most important books in Japanese studies in a long time and will influence the entire field." --Robert Bellah, former Elliott Professor of Sociology, Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley
"A masterly book... will prove of great assistance to a student of Japanese literature and thought from the eleventh century onwards." --Times Literary Supplement "A major contribution to the fields of Japanese studies, comparative literature, and hi

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS 1
• PREFACE
• MAJOR ERAS OF JAPANESE HISTORY
• 1 “FLOATING PHRASES AND FICTIVE UTTERANCES”: THE RISE AND FALL OF SYMBOLS
• 2 IN AND OUT THE ROKUDŌ: KYOKAI AND THE FORMATION OF MEDIEVAL JAPAN
• 3 INNS AND HERMITAGES: THE STRUCTURE OF IMPERMANENCE
• 4 SYMBOL AND YŪGEN: SHUNZEI’S USE OF TENDAI BUDDHISM
• 5 CHOMEI AS HERMIT: VIMALAKĪRTI IN THE “HŌJŌ-KI”
• 6 ZEAMI’S BUDDHISM: COSMOLOGY AND DIALECTIC IN NŌ DRAMA
• 7 SOCIETY UPSIDE-DOWN: KYŌGEN AS SATIRE AND AS RITUAL
• 8 THE POET AS SEER: BASHO LOOKS BACK
• NOTES
• JAPANESE NAMES AND TERMS
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX