The Religious Traditions of Asia: Religion, History, and Culture

by Joseph Kitagawa (Editor)

Overview

This essential student textbook consists of seventeen sections, all written by leading scholars in their different fields. They cover all the religious traditions of Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Tibet, and East Asia. The major traditions that are described and discussed are (from the Southwest) Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Islam, and (from the East) Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto. In addition, the tradition of Bon in Tibet, the shamanistic religions of Inner Asia, and general Chinese, Korean and Japanese religion are also given full coverage. The emphasis throughout is on clear description and analysis, rather than evaluation. Ten maps are provided to add to the usefulness of this book, which has its origin in the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Mircea Eliade of the University of Chicago.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780700717620
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/25/2002
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

The late Joseph M. Kitagawa was Professor Emeritus of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago, USA.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Maps Part 1: South and Southeast Asia 1. Hinduism 2. Buddhism in India 3. Jainism 4. The Sikhs 5. Buddhism in Southeast Asia 6. Islam in South Asia 7. Islam in Southeast Asia Part 2: Inner Asia and Tibet 8. The Religions of Tibet 9. The Schools of Tibetan Buddhism 10. Bon 11. The Religions of Inner Asia 12. Islam in Central Asia Part 3: East Asia 13. Chinese Religion 14. Japanese Religion 15. Korean Religion 16. Buddhism in Korea 17. Islam in China. List of Contributors

Editorial Reviews

'a very good overview of the manifold religious traditions that are woven into the social fabric of vast regions of Asia...One of the sure merits of this volume is that, alongside the well-known major religions, it has also given due importance to those somewhat less known religious traditions of Asia, that survive either independently or in a state of fusion with other religious traditions.' - Bibliographia Missionaria

From the Publisher