Details

Subject(s)

• Race relations—Religious aspects—Buddhism [Browse]
• Racism—Religious aspects—Buddhism [Browse]
• Religious addiction—Buddhism [Browse]
• Indo-Aryans—United States—History [Browse]
• Buddhist literature—History and criticism [Browse]

Series

Routledge studies in Asian religion and philosophy [More in this series]

Summary note

"This book analyzes Buddhist discussions of the Aryan myth and scientific racism and the ways in which this conversation reshaped Buddhism in the United States, and globally. It traces the development of notions of Aryanism in Buddhism through Buddhist publications from 1899-1957, focusing on this so-called "yellow peril," or historical racist views in the United States of an Asian "other." During this time period in America, the Aryan myth was considered to be scientific fact, and Buddhists were able to capitalize on this idea throughout a global publishing network of books, magazines, and academic work which helped to transform the presentation of Buddhism into the "Aryan religion." Following narratives regarding colonialism and the development of the Aryan myth, Buddhists challenged these dominant tropes: they combined emic discussions about the "Aryan" myth and comparisons of Buddhism and science, in order to disprove colonial tropes of "Western" dominance, and suggest that Buddhism represented a superior tradition in world historical development. The author argues that this presentation of a Buddhist tradition of superiority helped to create space for Buddhism within the American religious landscape"-- Provided by publisher.

Bibliographic references

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

• Introduction
• 1. The Search for Aryan Statues
• 2. Racecraft in America
• 3. Academia and Aryan Ideology
• 4. Bioracism Across Asia
• 5. Aryan Buddhism as Humanity's Foundation
• 6. The Shin Boom and Zen Aryanism
• 7. Metaphysical Buddhism and the Religion of Joy
• 8. Buddhism and the Evolution of Racecraft
• 9. An Aryan Buddhist Utopia
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Index.

Show 10 more Contents items

ISBN

• 9780367622336 (hardcover)
• 0367622335 (hardcover)
• 9780367626402 (paperback)
• 0367626403 (paperback)

LCCN

2021005015

OCLC

1237347587

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