Maitreya, the Future BuddhaAlan Sponberg, Helen Hardacre Originally published in 1988, this book is a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural study of the legend that has evolved around the figure of Maitreya, which followers of the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama had agreed would be the future Buddha, and the substantial influence of this legend on Buddhist culture. Arising out of an international conference held at Princeton University, this collection of twelve essays by specialists in textual studies, art history and cultural anthropology examines the origins of the Maitreya tradition in South Asia as well as a variety of culturally specific expressions of the tradition as it developed in China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan. The essays explore the various expectations Buddhist practitioners have had of Maitreya and examine the iconographic and ritualistic symbols associated with this messianic and millenarian figure. Several essays also examine the controversy regarding circumstances under which the figure has sometimes taken on apocalyptic and eschatological characteristics. |
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Ajita Amitabha apocalyptic arhat ascetic Asia Asian Avalokitesvara believed bodhisattva bodhisattva Maitreya Buddha Maitreya Buddhahood Buddhist cakravartin canonical chapter China Chinese Chūgūji cult of Maitreya cultural deity descend devotion Dharma disciples discussion early earth eschatology figure Fuji Fujikō future Buddha Gautama here/later here/now Hòa Hảo Hōryūji human Hwarang Ibid idea image of Maitreya Japan Japanese Jikigyō Kakugyō Kasagi Kasagi Maitreya Kasagidera kenkyū king Korea Kūkai legend Lotus Lotus Sūtra Mahākāśyapa Mahāvastu Mahāyāna Maitreya appears Maitreya cult Maitreya myth Maitreya Sūtras Maitreya's descent mandara Mañjuśrī meditation messianic millenarian Miroku Mirokusan monk motif mountain Nara Paekche Pali Text Society pao-chüan paradise period popular practice Prince Prince Shōtoku Pure Land rebirth reborn Reiyūkai religion religious Rōben role śākyamuni samādhi scriptures sect Sengen Daibosatsu seventh century shinkō Shōtoku Shugendō Silla sources statue Tathāgata teachings temple theme Tōdaiji Tokyo Tușita Heaven University visualization Wonhyo worship