The Dharma of Dragons and Daemons

Buddhist Themes in Modern Fantasy

David R. Loy, Linda Goodhew

• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9780861714766
• eBook ISBN:
  9780861718276
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism in Science Fiction
• Index: Literature

In order to live, we need air, water, food, shelter…and stories. This book is about Buddhist stories: not about stories to be found in Buddhism, but about the “Buddhism” to be found in some of the classics of contemporary fantasy including the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, Hayao Miyazaki, Michael Ende, Philip Pullman, and Ursula K. LeGuin.

Many books are called groundbreaking, but this one is truly unique and sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in fantasy literature. It employs a Buddhist perspective to appreciate some of the major works of modern fantasy--and uses modern fantasy fiction to elucidate Buddhist teachings. In the tradition of David Loy's cutting-edge presentation of a Buddhist social theory in The Great Awakening, this pioneering work of Buddhist literary analysis, renown scholar David Loy and Linda Goodhew offer ways of reading modern fantasy-genre fiction that illuminate both the stories themselves, and the universal qualities of Buddhist teachings. Authors examined include J.R.R. Tolkien, Philip Pullman (of The Amber Spyglass trilogy, from whose works the word "daemon" is borrowed in the title), Ursula K. LeGuin, and the anime movie Princess Mononoke.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Fantastic Dharma
• 2. The Dharma of Engagement: J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings
• 3. The Dharma of Time: Michael Ende’s Momo
• 4. The Dharma of Nonviolence: Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds and Princess Mononoke
• 5. The Dharma of Death and Life: Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea
• Afterword
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Also Available from Wisdom Publications
• Wisdom Publications
• Copyright