Customer Reviews

Buddhist Sutras: Origin, Development, Transmission

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"Buddhist Sutras" is an erudite, yet accessible, account of the origins and historical movements of Buddhist scripture, throughout Asia; the book covers some 2,500 years, ending in the 20th century. The book does not cover scriptural transmission to Europe and the Americas, but, rather, focuses on giving a consise, and detailed history the sutras as they traveled through India, China, and Japan. Southeast Asia and Korea get very little coverage. This book is not an ideological, or philosophical history, and thus does not cover chronological, or doctrinal developments. Instead, the actual physical sutras themselves are discussed, as they traveled by oral tradition, into wrtitten forms. There is also a very informative section on printing methods, and archival (storage) techniques, in each of the countries. However, the major sutra collections are identified with the various sects that adhere to them, and students wishing to find more on the doctrinal developments of the sutras throughout time will find this a good source for further study. There is a detailed bibliography of sutra catalogs as an appendix, and the last chapter lists valuble resources for modern translations and scholarship. A good book for both Buddhists and academics.

This book is only for those with a deep interest in sutras. If you love the buddhist sutras you'll probably find this book intriguing. I loved this book because I love the Buddhist sutras, particularly the diamond sutra. Once I fall in love with literature I want to know as much as possible about it and this book does the best I've seen. That isn't that difficult however when there are very few books that research the history.