Buddhism and Medicine in Japan: A Topical Survey (500-1600 CE) of a Complex Relationship

Katja Triplett

Published by De Gruyter 2020

Buddhism and Medicine in Japan

A Topical Survey (500-1600 CE) of a Complex Relationship

Katja Triplett

Volume 81 in the series Religion and Society

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110576214

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book demonstrates the close link between medicine and Buddhism in early and medieval Japan. It may seem difficult to think of Japanese Buddhism as being linked to the realm of medical practices since religious healing is usually thought to be restricted to prayers for divine intervention. There is a surprising lack of scholarship regarding medicinal practices in Japanese Buddhism although an overwhelming amount of primary sources proves otherwise.

A careful re-reading of well-known materials from a study-of-religions perspective, together with in some cases a first-time exploration of manuscripts and prints, opens new views on an understudied field. The book presents a topical survey and comprises chapters on treating sight-related diseases, women’s health, plant-based materica medica and medicinal gardens, and finally horse medicine to include veterinary knowledge.

Terminological problems faced in working on this material – such as ‘religious’ or ‘magical healing’ as opposed to ‘secular medicine’ – are assessed. The book suggests focusing more on the plural nature of the Japanese healing system as encountered in the primary sources and reconsidering the use of categories from the European intellectual tradition.

Author / Editor information

This book demonstrates the close link between medicine and Buddhism in early and medieval Japan. It may seem difficult to think of Japanese Buddhism as being linked to the realm of medical practices since religious healing is usually thought to be restricted to prayers for divine intervention. There is a surprising lack of scholarship regarding medicinal practices in Japanese Buddhism although an overwhelming amount of primary sources proves otherwise. A careful re-reading of well-known materials from a study-of-religions perspective, together with in some cases a first-time exploration of manuscripts and prints, opens new views on an understudied field.

The book presents a topical survey and comprises chapters on treating sight-related diseases, women’s health, plant-based materica medica and medicinal gardens, and finally horse medicine to include veterinary knowledge. Terminological problems faced in working on this material -- such as ‘religious’ or ‘magical healing’ as opposed to ‘secular medicine’ -- are assessed. The book suggests focusing more on the plural nature of the Japanese healing system as encountered in the primary sources and reconsidering the use of categories from the European intellectual tradition.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	V
Prologue Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
Conventions Publicly Available Download PDF	XI
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Buddhism, Medicine and Magic: The Boundary Problem Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	20
2. Operating with Buddhism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	44
3. The Eye I: An Organ as a Site of Empowerment and Healing Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	70
4. The Eye II: Buddhist Healing and Living with Visual Impairment Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	92
5. Women: Care of the Reproductive Female Body Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	111
6. Plants: Materia medica, Medicinal Gardens and Panaceas Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	134
7. Horses and Equine Medicine Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
Conclusion: Boundaries, Maps and Types of Othering Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189
Timeline Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
List of Images Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	204
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	205
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	240

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: All those interested in the history of religions, Buddhism, East Asian and Japanese studies, alternative medicine
Pages
- Front matter: 15
- Main content: 259
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 1
- Coloured Illustrations: 7
- Tables: 1
Keywords: Japanese Buddhism; history of medicine in Japan; religion and medicine; Japanese religions

eBook

Published: November 18, 2019
ISBN: 9783110576214

Hardcover

Published: November 18, 2019
ISBN: 9783110573503

Paperback

Published: September 20, 2021
ISBN: 9783110762952