Title
Neither Monk nor Layman: Clerical Marriage in Modern Japanese Buddhism,Used
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Buddhism comes in many forms, but in Japan it stands apart from all the rest in one most striking waythe monks get married. In Neither Monk nor Layman, the most comprehensive study of this topic in any language, Richard Jaffe addresses the emergence of an openly married clergy as a momentous change in the history of modern Japanese Buddhism. He demonstrates, in clear and engaging prose, that this shift was not an easy one for Japanese Buddhists. Yet the transformation that began in the early Meiji period (18681912)when monks were ordered by government authorities to marry, to have children, and to eat meattoday extends to all the countrys Buddhist denominations.Jaffe traces the gradual acceptance of clerical marriage by Japanese Buddhists from the premodern emergence of the 'clerical marriage problem' in the Edo period to its widespread practice by the start of World War II. In doing so he considers related issues such as the dissolution of clerical status and the growing domestication of Japanese temple life. This book reveals the deep contradictions between sectarian teachings that continue to idealize renunciation and a clergy whose lives closely resemble those of their parishioners in modern Japanese society. It will attract not only scholars of religion and of Japanese history, but all those interested in the encounterconflict between regimes of modernization and religious institutions and the fate of celibate religious practices in the twentieth century.
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- Q: What is the main topic of 'Neither Monk nor Layman'? A: The book explores the emergence of married clergy in modern Japanese Buddhism, highlighting its historical significance and the complexities involved in this transformation.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author is Richard Jaffe, a scholar specializing in Japanese Buddhism.
- Q: When was 'Neither Monk nor Layman' published? A: The book was published on August 31, 2010.
- Q: What is the page count of 'Neither Monk nor Layman'? A: The book contains 320 pages.
- Q: Is 'Neither Monk nor Layman' available in different formats? A: Yes, the book is available in paperback format.
- Q: What historical period does the book cover regarding clerical marriage? A: It covers the emergence of clerical marriage from the Edo period through to its widespread acceptance by the start of World War II.
- Q: Does the book address the impact of modernization on Japanese Buddhism? A: Yes, it discusses the encounter between modernization and religious institutions, particularly how these changes affected clerical practices.
- Q: Who would benefit from reading this book? A: This book is beneficial for scholars of religion, Japanese history, and anyone interested in the dynamics of modernization in religious contexts.
- Q: What are some key themes in 'Neither Monk nor Layman'? A: Key themes include the contradiction between the ideal of renunciation in Buddhism and the realities of married clergy, as well as the social implications of clerical marriage.
- Q: Is there an illustrated edition of the book? A: Yes, 'Neither Monk nor Layman' is published in an illustrated edition.