Anarchy in the Pure Land: Reinventing the Cult of Maitreya in Modern Chinese Bud

Description: Anarchy in the Pure Land by Justin Ritzinger Anarchy in the Pure Land shows that the modern Chinese reinvention of cult of Maitreya, the future Buddha, functioned as an important site for articulating a Buddhist vision of modernity. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Anarchy in the Pure Land investigates the twentieth-century reinvention of the cult of Maitreya, the future Buddha, conceived by the reformer Taixu and promoted by the Chinese Buddhist reform movement. The cult presents an apparent anomaly: It shows precisely the kind of concern for ritual, supernatural beings, and the afterlife that the reformers supposedly rejected in the name of "modernity." This book shows that, rather than a concession to tradition,the reimagining of ideas and practices associated with Maitreya was an important site for formulating a Buddhist vision of modernity.Justin Ritzinger argues that the cult of Maitreyarepresents an attempt to articulate a new constellation of values, integrating novel understandings of the good, clustered around modern visions of utopia, with the central Buddhist goal of Buddhahood. In Part One he traces the roots of this constellation to Taixus youthful career as an anarchist. Part Two examines its articulation in the Maitreya Schools theology and its social development from its inception to World War II. Part Three looks at its subsequent decline and contemporary legacywithin and beyond orthodox Buddhism. Through these investigations, Anarchy in the Pure Land develops a new framework for alternative understandings of modernity in Buddhism. Author Biography Justin R. Ritzinger is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Miami. He received his PhD in the Study of Religion from Harvard in 2010. Table of Contents Introduction: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maitreya?Part I: Taixus Buddhist RadicalismChapter One: Portrait of the Master as a Young AnarchistChapter Two: Disorienting FrameworksPart II: The Cult of MaitreyaChapter Three: A New Cult for New BuddhistsChapter Four: Bodhisattva of ProgressPart III: Worlds Closing and OpeningChapter Five: Future InterruptedChapter Six: Reawakening Maitreya-Legacies Orthodox and HeterodoxConclusion: Remembrances of Futures Past Review "This book sheds new light on the origins of Humanistic Buddhism, the Tantric Revival, and contemporary Sinic Buddhism. It also adds nuance to our understanding of Taixus modernism. Scholars of modern Chinese Buddhism and global Buddhist modernities will greatly benefit from this book. Additionally, the writing is accessible enough to be read by advanced undergraduates and non-specialists." -- Cody Bahir, Religious Studies Review"Anarchy in the Pure Land without a doubt opens up a new territory in the study of Taixu, setting a new standard for this area of research. We hope his achievements will give new insights and a new direction to the entire field of research into modern Chinese Buddhism." -- Jidong Chen, Journal of Chinese Religions"Justin R. Ritzinger unsettles a good deal of received scholarly wisdom and forces a new look at old issues ... this book will be indispensable for anyone interested in the history of modern Chinese Buddhism or the history of modern China. I recommend it without reservation." -- Charles B. Jones, Journal of Religion"Ritzingers fine book provides a very valuable service, giving us not only a much-needed, highly detailed account of the thinking of a major actor in Chinas modern history, but also a wealth of powerful arguments about the ultimate compatibility of anarchism and Buddhist activism. Likewise, his thorough investigation of the attempted recuperation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, and of Maitreyanism, with its multiple historical instantiations in a plethora ofsalvific movements, to twentieth-century mainstream Buddhist orthodoxy, offers us an engaging way to think with Chinese history, revolution, and religious practice in modern times Written in anaccessible style without sacrificing complexity of analysis, Anarchy in the Pure Land will be suitable for inclusion in undergraduate and graduate courses in Chinese Studies, Chinese Buddhism, Chinese history, and religious studies."--Francesca Tarocco, Reading Religion"Justin Ritzinger has produced an illuminating historical study of the modern reinvention of the cult of Maitreya. Using the Buddhist anarchist cleric Taixus promotion of Maitreya devotionalism, which served as a moral framework for his revolutionary utopianism, Ritzinger complicates earlier push models of Buddhist reform to show a pull model that approaches modernity as a source of attraction rather than compulsion. He offers important theoreticalinsights for scholars of modern Buddhism and historians of early twentieth-century China."--Jimmy Yu, author of Sanctity and Self-Inflicted Violence in Chinese Religion, 1500-1700"Professor Ritzingers audacious book upends our understanding of Taixu and shatters our view of how Republican-era Chinese Buddhist reformers saw modernity. With this theory-rich, fresh perspective, we will see neither Taixu nor Buddhism in modern East Asia in the same way again."--Hwansoo Kim, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Duke University"Ritzingers study of recent reformulations of Maitreya and his cult reveals unexpected links with modernizing discourses and movements in early twentieth-century China. Of particular importance is the well-known Buddhist reformer Taixu, for whom a focus on Maitreya and Maitreyan texts linked devotional and ritual practice with anarcho-socialist political concerns in a much more sustained and consistent way than has been previously understood. This is a majorcontribution to the study of religions, politics, and history in twentieth- and twenty-first-century China and Taiwan."--Philip Clart, Professor of Chinese Culture and History, University of Leipzig,Germany"This is a work of intellectual history. Although institutional issues are discussed in passing, the primary goal of this book is to explain the context, development, and enduring legacy of Taixus ideas about, and devotion to, Maitreya. While intellectual history is not the only approach used by contemporary scholars of modern Chinese Buddhism, it is a favored one. Here Ritzinger employs it in classical fashion as he analyzes the development over time of theideas of a single individual, and the impact that contemporary events and trends had on that individuals thinking. Much of his source material consists of articles from radical and Buddhist journals,and published records of lectures given by Taixu." -- Review of Religion and Chinese Society Long Description Anarchy in the Pure Land investigates the cult of Maitreya, the future Buddha, promoted by the Chinese Buddhist reform movement spearheaded by Taixu. The cult presents an apparent anomaly: It shows precisely the kind of concern for ritual, supernatural beings, and the afterlife that the reformers supposedly rejected in the name of "modernity." This book shows that, rather than a concession to tradition, the reimagining of ideas and practices associated withMaitreya was an important site for formulating a Buddhist vision of modernity.Justin Ritzinger argues that the cult of Maitreya represents an attempt to articulate a new constellation of values, integrating novel understandings of the good-clustered around modern visions of utopia-with the central Buddhist goal of Buddhahood. Part One traces the roots of this constellation to Taixus youthful career as an anarchist. Part Two examines its articulation in the Maitreya Schools theology and its social development from its inception to World War II. Part Three looks at itssubsequent decline and contemporary legacy within and beyond orthodox Buddhism. Review Text "This book sheds new light on the origins of Humanistic Buddhism, the Tantric Revival, and contemporary Sinic Buddhism. It also adds nuance to our understanding of Taixus modernism. Scholars of modern Chinese Buddhism and global Buddhist modernities will greatly benefit from this book. Additionally, the writing is accessible enough to be read by advanced undergraduates and non-specialists." -- Cody Bahir, Religious Studies Review"Anarchy in the Pure Land without a doubt opens up a new territory in the study of Taixu, setting a new standard for this area of research. We hope his achievements will give new insights and a new direction to the entire field of research into modern Chinese Buddhism." -- Jidong Chen, Journal of Chinese Religions"Justin R. Ritzinger unsettles a good deal of received scholarly wisdom and forces a new look at old issues ... this book will be indispensable for anyone interested in the history of modern Chinese Buddhism or the history of modern China. I recommend it without reservation." -- Charles B. Jones, Journal of Religion"Ritzingers fine book provides a very valuable service, giving us not only a much-needed, highly detailed account of the thinking of a major actor in Chinas modern history, but also a wealth of powerful arguments about the ultimate compatibility of anarchism and Buddhist activism. Likewise, his thorough investigation of the attempted recuperation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, and of Maitreyanism, with its multiple historical instantiations in a plethora ofsalvific movements, to twentieth-century mainstream Buddhist orthodoxy, offers us an engaging way to think with Chinese history, revolution, and religious practice in modern times Written in anaccessible style without sacrificing complexity of analysis, Anarchy in the Pure Land will be suitable for inclusion in undergraduate and graduate courses in Chinese Studies, Chinese Buddhism, Chinese history, and religious studies."--Francesca Tarocco, Reading Religion"Justin Ritzinger has produced an illuminating historical study of the modern reinvention of the cult of Maitreya. Using the Buddhist anarchist cleric Taixus promotion of Maitreya devotionalism, which served as a moral framework for his revolutionary utopianism, Ritzinger complicates earlier push models of Buddhist reform to show a pull model that approaches modernity as a source of attraction rather than compulsion. He offers important theoreticalinsights for scholars of modern Buddhism and historians of early twentieth-century China."--Jimmy Yu, author of Sanctity and Self-Inflicted Violence in Chinese Religion, 1500-1700"Professor Ritzingers audacious book upends our understanding of Taixu and shatters our view of how Republican-era Chinese Buddhist reformers saw modernity. With this theory-rich, fresh perspective, we will see neither Taixu nor Buddhism in modern East Asia in the same way again."--Hwansoo Kim, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Duke University"Ritzingers study of recent reformulations of Maitreya and his cult reveals unexpected links with modernizing discourses and movements in early twentieth-century China. Of particular importance is the well-known Buddhist reformer Taixu, for whom a focus on Maitreya and Maitreyan texts linked devotional and ritual practice with anarcho-socialist political concerns in a much more sustained and consistent way than has been previously understood. This is a majorcontribution to the study of religions, politics, and history in twentieth- and twenty-first-century China and Taiwan."--Philip Clart, Professor of Chinese Culture and History, University of Leipzig,Germany"This is a work of intellectual history. Although institutional issues are discussed in passing, the primary goal of this book is to explain the context, development, and enduring legacy of Taixus ideas about, and devotion to, Maitreya. While intellectual history is not the only approach used by contemporary scholars of modern Chinese Buddhism, it is a favored one. Here Ritzinger employs it in classical fashion as he analyzes the development over time of theideas of a single individual, and the impact that contemporary events and trends had on that individuals thinking. Much of his source material consists of articles from radical and Buddhist journals,and published records of lectures given by Taixu." -- Review of Religion and Chinese Society Review Quote "This book sheds new light on the origins of Humanistic Buddhism, the Tantric Revival, and contemporary Sinic Buddhism. It also adds nuance to our understanding of Taixus modernism. Scholars of modern Chinese Buddhism and global Buddhist modernities will greatly benefit from this book. Additionally, the writing is accessible enough to be read by advanced undergraduates and non-specialists." -- Cody Bahir, Religious Studies Review "Anarchy in the Pure Land without a doubt opens up a new territory in the study of Taixu, setting a new standard for this area of research. We hope his achievements will give new insights and a new direction to the entire field of research into modern Chinese Buddhism." -- Jidong Chen, Journal of Chinese Religions "Justin R. Ritzinger unsettles a good deal of received scholarly wisdom and forces a new look at old issues ... this book will be indispensable for anyone interested in the history of modern Chinese Buddhism or the history of modern China. I recommend it without reservation." -- Charles B. Jones, Journal of Religion "Ritzingers fine book provides a very valuable service, giving us not only a much-needed, highly detailed account of the thinking of a major actor in Chinas modern history, but also a wealth of powerful arguments about the ultimate compatibility of anarchism and Buddhist activism. Likewise, his thorough investigation of the attempted recuperation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, and of Maitreyanism, with its multiple historical instantiations in a plethora of salvific movements, to twentieth-century mainstream Buddhist orthodoxy, offers us an engaging way to think with Chinese history, revolution, and religious practice in modern times Written in an accessible style without sacrificing complexity of analysis, Anarchy in the Pure Land will be suitable for inclusion in undergraduate and graduate courses in Chinese Studies, Chinese Buddhism, Chinese history, and religious studies."--Francesca Tarocco, Reading Religion "Justin Ritzinger has produced an illuminating historical study of the modern reinvention of the cult of Maitreya. Using the Buddhist anarchist cleric Taixus promotion of Maitreya devotionalism, which served as a moral framework for his revolutionary utopianism, Ritzinger complicates earlier push models of Buddhist reform to show a pull model that approaches modernity as a source of attraction rather than compulsion. He offers important theoretical insights for scholars of modern Buddhism and historians of early twentieth-century China."--Jimmy Yu, author of Sanctity and Self-Inflicted Violence in Chinese Religion, 1500-1700 "Professor Ritzingers audacious book upends our understanding of Taixu and shatters our view of how Republican-era Chinese Buddhist reformers saw modernity. With this theory-rich, fresh perspective, we will see neither Taixu nor Buddhism in modern East Asia in the same way again."--Hwansoo Kim, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Duke University "Ritzingers study of recent reformulations of Maitreya and his cult reveals unexpected links with modernizing discourses and movements in early twentieth-century China. Of particular importance is the well-known Buddhist reformer Taixu, for whom a focus on Maitreya and Maitreyan texts linked devotional and ritual practice with anarcho-socialist political concerns in a much more sustained and consistent way than has been previously understood. This is a major contribution to the study of religions, politics, and history in twentieth- and twenty-first-century China and Taiwan."--Philip Clart, Professor of Chinese Culture and History, University of Leipzig, Germany "This is a work of intellectual history. Although institutional issues are discussed in passing, the primary goal of this book is to explain the context, development, and enduring legacy of Taixus ideas about, and devotion to, Maitreya. While intellectual history is not the only approach used by contemporary scholars of modern Chinese Buddhism, it is a favored one. Here Ritzinger employs it in classical fashion as he analyzes the development over time of the ideas of a single individual, and the impact that contemporary events and trends had on that individuals thinking. Much of his source material consists of articles from radical and Buddhist journals, and published records of lectures given by Taixu." -- Review of Religion and Chinese Society Feature Selling point: First book on reformists reinvention of the cult of MaitreyaSelling point: Overturns conventional understanding of Taixu and his movementSelling point: Examines previously unstudied and unknown materials New Feature Introduction: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maitreya? Part I: Taixus Buddhist Radicalism Chapter One: Portrait of the Master as a Young Anarchist Chapter Two: Disorienting Frameworks Part II: The Cult of Maitreya Chapter Three: A New Cult for New Buddhists Chapter Four: Bodhisattva of Progress Part III: Worlds Closing and Opening Chapter Five: Future Interrupted Chapter Six: Reawakening Maitreya-Legacies Orthodox and Heterodox Conclusion: Remembrances of Futures Past Details ISBN0190491167 Author Justin Ritzinger Year 2017 ISBN-10 0190491167 ISBN-13 9780190491161 Format Hardcover Pages 352 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Imprint Oxford University Press Inc Subtitle Reinventing the Cult of Maitreya in Modern Chinese Buddhism Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States DEWEY 294.3 Illustrations 4 illus. Position Assistant Professor of History Affiliation Assistant Professor of History, Florida Atlantic University Short Title Anarchy in the Pure Land Language English Publication Date 2017-10-26 UK Release Date 2017-10-26 AU Release Date 2017-10-26 NZ Release Date 2017-10-26 US Release Date 2017-10-26 Edited by Jonathan Rosenberg Birth 1954 Death 1921 Qualifications QC Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:168376107;

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