Synopses & Reviews
In 17th and 18th century China, Buddhists and Confucians alike flooded local Buddhist monasteries with donations As gentry numbers grew faster than the imperial bureaucracy, traditional Confucian careers were closed to many; but visible philanthropy could publicize elite status outside the state realm. Actively sought by fund-raising abbots, such patronage affected institutional Buddhism.
After exploring the relation of Buddhism to Ming Neo-Confucianism, the growth of tourism to Buddhist sites, and the mechanisms and motives for charitable donations, Timothy Brook studies three widely separated and economically dissimilar counties. He draws on rich data in monastic gazetteers to examine the patterns and social consequences of patronage.
Review
Timothy Brook has written a splendid book which deals with two dimensions of Ming history that are still quite insufficiently studied in the West, namely, the social history of 'Buddhism' in the late imperial period (specifically the late Ming), and the study of social elites (the gentry). He makes important contributions to both fields, showing the vitality of Buddhist monastic institutions and the appeal of Buddhist religious culture among the highest levels of the local elite...The book presents a clearly structured argument, which is an enjoyment to read...Timothy Brook's important contribution to the social history of the late Ming period and of Buddhist life in particular can be read in several ways. It can serve as an excellent introduction to the social and religious history of the late Ming period for students at all levels, but also presents the established historian with a sound piece of investigative research. I, for one, look forward to taking up the arguments formulated here as a starting point for my own future research. Barend J. Ter Haar
Review
The author concludes that the phenomenon of gentry patronage is an important example of what he terms the separation of state and society in the late Ming. It is a careful, extremely well documented and well argued work and makes an important contribution to the field of gentry studies and China's social and religious history. T'oung Pao
Synopsis
In 17th and 18th century China, Buddhists and Confucians alike flooded local Buddhist monasteries with donations As gentry numbers grew faster than the imperial bureaucracy, traditional Confucian careers were closed to many; but visible philanthropy could publicize elite status outside the state realm. Actively sought by fund-raising abbots, such patronage affected institutional Buddhism.
After exploring the relation of Buddhism to Ming Neo-Confucianism, the growth of tourism to Buddhist sites, and the mechanisms and motives for charitable donations, Timothy Brook studies three widely separated and economically dissimilar counties. He draws on rich data in monastic gazetteers to examine the patterns and social consequences of patronage.
Synopsis
Timothy Brook studies three widely separated and economically dissimilar counties. He draws on rich data in monastic gazetteers to examine the patterns and social consequences of patronage.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [373]-392) and index.
About the Author
Timothy Brook is Professor of History and Republic of China Chair at the University of British Columbia.
University of British Columbia
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Maps
List of Figures
Preface
Translation Conventions
Introduction: Monastic Patronage and the Gentry: The Problem
- The Historiography of Gentry Studies
- Buddhism and the Gentry
- Gentry Society and the Public Sphere
- The Changing Social Context of the Buddhist Monastery
Part 1: The Culture of Buddhism
- The Passionate Life of Zhang Dai
- Like a Lid to a Box, Like Ice to Ash: Accommodating Buddhism
- The Relationship of Buddhism to Neo-Confucianism
- The Neo-Confucian Absorption
- The Neo-Confucian Reaction
- Accommodation
- Holding a Cup of New Tea and Listening to Sutras: Buddhism in Gentry Culture
- Assessing Buddhism's Presence in Gentry Society
- Buddhist Observances and Rituals
- The Organization of Lay Associations
- Tourism and Cultural Pursuits
- Gentry Uses of Monastic Space
- Gentry Becoming Monks
Part 2: Monastic Patronage
- The Patrons of Dinghu Mountain
- How the Gentry Patronized Monasteries
- Financial Patronage
- The Acquisition of Land
- Gentry Supervision of Monastic Affairs
- Literary Patronage
- Temporal Trends of Patronage
- Why the Gentry Patronized Monasteries
- Gender-Based Patronage
- Kinship-Based Patronage
- Religious Appeals
- Social Appeals
- Cultural Appeals
- Social Networks
- Publicizing Gentry Identity
- Merchant Philanthropy in Contrast
Part 3: Patronage in Context
- The Patronage of Gentry in a Small County: Zhucheng County, Shandong
- Zhucheng Environment and Social Structure
- The Zhucheng Gentry
- Zhucheng Religious Institutions
- Zhucheng Monastic Patronage
- The Patronage of Gentry in a Large County: Yin County (Ningbo), Zhejiang
- Yin Environment and Social Structure
- Yin Religious Institutions
- The Great Monasteries of Yin
- The Yin Gentry
- Buddhism and the Yin Gentry
- Yin Monastic Patronage
- Patronage and the County Magistrate: Dangyang County, Hubei
- Buddhist Patronage and the State
- Dangyang Environment and Social Structure
- Dangyang Religious Institutions
- Buddhism and the Dangyang Gentry
- The Patronage of Yuquan Monastery
- Gentry Patronage and the Magistrate
- Conclusion: The Separation of State and Society
- The Ideal of Withdrawal in the Late Ming
- Buddhism and the Late-Ming Gentry
- The Late Ming and the Late Song
- The Late Ming and the Late Qing
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index