Buddhism: A Brief History

Author: Wu Dexin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: "Buddha" refers to the sage of the Shakya clan who sought and attained enlightenment on the truth of life in the universe—Siddhartha Gautama. In ancient Sanskrit, it is abbreviated as "Buddha," meaning "the awakened one" or "the wise one." Any ordinary person with Buddha-nature and a perpetually burning spiritual candle can become a Buddha. Since its introduction to China, Buddhism has had a profound impact on numerous disciplines, including philosophy, ethics, folk studies, literature, music, architecture, painting, and medicine. As a culture, a religion, and a philosophy, it has exerted a tremendous influence on shaping the soul and character of the Han people, with its penetration and infusion into China's politics, economy, thought, and social customs being immeasurable. Many of the terms we use in daily life originate from Buddhism. For example, words like "world," "absolute," "relative," "instant," "actual," "present," "equality," and "as-it-is" are all Buddhist terminology. Given the profound and mystical nature of Buddhist doctrine, which is vast in scope and intricate in thought, this book presents the history and culture of Buddhism in a clear and accessible manner through a format of interwoven text and illustrations. The book includes over 300 illustrations of the Buddha, Arhats, Guanyin, Venerables, and Laypeople, each of great artistic and collectible value, creating a harmonious interplay between beautiful images and excellent text. With over 50 classic Buddhist quotes and interpretations of Buddhist terms, along with engaging illustrations and descriptive texts, readers can more intuitively and informatively experience the mystery of Buddhist realms and appreciate the vast wisdom of the Buddha.