Eastern Wisdom: An Illustrated Guide to the Religions and Philosophies of the East (Henry Holt Reference Book) [Hardcover]

C. Scott Littleton (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996 | Series: Henry Holt Reference Book

Generously illustrated with full-color images of sacred art, architecture, symbols, landscapes, ceremonies and festivals, Eastern Wisdom is a uniquely accessible and penetrating guide to the fascinating body of religious and philosophical thought that originated in the East. Written by renowned experts in their fields, this book will enlighten all those who wish to understand the transcendent worldviews expressed in these compelling systems of belief.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?Five articles on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism give insight into the basic tenets of each religion and philosophy. The essays show how these religions have provided people with answers to the fundamental questions of life. Cultural and historical insights are also incorporated. This is a book readers would want to spend time with; there is a lot of information (beautifully divided into short passages) to ingest. The attractive format features many reproductions, photographs, and vignettes. The glossary, divided by religion, is quite helpful. Certainly this volume can be used as a research tool?there is a good index and a list of further readings?but its best use is as an overview of Eastern belief systems.?Rebecca C. Burgee, Langley High School, McLean, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This guide presents short, readable sections by scholars, who explain Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto to the general public. Without becoming too technical, each writer manages to convey the most important elements of the history and content of each system. Terms are defined parenthetically within the text and more fully in a general glossary, and many captioned color photographs assist understanding and capture interest. There is also some cross-referencing and a good index. Possibly the best section is on Shinto, essential to understanding Japan and often overlooked in popular works. Conspicuously missing is Islam, which has also had a profound influence in India and throughout South East Asia and should not have been ignored. However, this is a good basic introduction to Eastern religious traditions. Recommended for public libraries.?C. Robert Nixon, Lafayette, Ind.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co; First Edition edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080504647X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805046472
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,329,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Textbook!, April 3, 2000

By 

Linda A. Malcor (Lake Forest, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eastern Wisdom: An Illustrated Guide to the Religions and Philosophies of the East (Henry Holt Reference Book) (Hardcover)

Lavishly illustrated and clearly written, this book is extremely accissble to readers from high school onward. The layout is conducive to use of the book as a textbook for a course with text box discussions that lend themselves well to use by students in discussion groups.