Jewels, Jewelry, and Other Shiny Things in the Buddhist Imaginary

Published by University of Hawaii Press 2021

Jewels, Jewelry, and Other Shiny Things in the Buddhist Imaginary

Edited by: Vanessa R. Sasson
With contributions by: Casey Collins , Wendy Doniger , Christoph Emmrich , Maria Heim , Ellen Huang , Nancy G. Lin , Richard K. Payne , Andy Rotman , Vanessa R. Sasson , John S. Strong and Francesca Tarocco

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780824889524

Overview
Contents

About this book

Renunciation is a core value in the Buddhist tradition, but Buddhism is not necessarily austere. Jewels—along with heavenly flowers, rays of rainbow light, and dazzling deities—shape the literature and the material reality of the tradition. They decorate temples, fill reliquaries, are used as metaphors, and sprout out of imagined Buddha fields. Moreover, jewels reflect a particular type of currency often used to make the Buddhist world go round: merit in exchange for wealth. Regardless of whether the Buddhist community has theoretically transcended the need for them or not, jewels—and the paradox they represent—are everywhere. Scholarship has often looked past this splendor, favoring the theory of renunciation instead, but in this volume, scholars from a wide range of disciplines consider the role jewels play in the Buddhist imaginary, putting them front and center for the first time.

Following an introduction that relates the colorful story of the Emerald Buddha, one of the most famous jewels in the world, chapters explore the function of jewels as personal identifiers in Buddhist and other Indian religious traditions; Buddhaghosa’s commentary on the Jewel Sutta; the paradox of the Buddha’s bejeweled status before and after renunciation; and the connection in early Buddhism between jewels, magnificence, and virtue. The Newars of Nepal are the focus of a chapter that looks at their gemology and associations between gems and celestial deities. Contributors analyze the Fifth Dalai Lama’s reliquary, known as the “sole ornament of the world”; the transformation of relic jewels into precious substances and their connection to the Piprahwa stupa in Northern India and the Nanjing Porcelain Pagoda. Final chapters offer detailed studies of ritual engagement with the deity known as Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Avalokiteśvara and its role in the new Japanese lay Buddhist religious movement Shinnyo-en.

Engaging and accessible, Jewels, Jewelry, and Other Shiny Things in the Buddhist Imaginary will provide readers with an opportunity to look beyond a common misconception about Buddhism and bring its lived tradition into wider discussion.

Author / Editor information

Sasson Vanessa R. :

Vanessa R. Sasson is professor of religious studies in the Liberal Arts Department, Marianopolis College, Quebec.Payne Richard K. :

Richard K. Payne is Yehan Numata Professor of Japanese Buddhist Studies at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley.Sasson Vanessa R. :

Vanessa R. Sasson is professor of religious studies in the Liberal Arts Department, Marianopolis College, Quebec.Vanessa R. Sasson is professor of religious studies in the Liberal Arts Department, Marianopolis College, Quebec.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Chapter 1. Introduction: The Emerald Buddha as a Ma Vanessa R. Sasson Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 2. Jewels of Recognition and Paternity in Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu Traditions Wendy Doniger Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
Chapter 3. Taking Refuge in Jewels Maria Heim Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	44
Chapter 4. Jeweled Renunciation: Reading the Buddha’s Hagiography Vanessa R. Sasson Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	65
Chapter 5. Are We All Merchants? Buddhists, Merchants, and Mercantilism in Early India Andy Rotman Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	86
Chapter 6. “I Don’t Want a Wife without Ear Cuffs”: Jewels, Gender, and the Market among the Newars of Nepal Christoph Emmrich Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	112
Chapter 7. Ornaments of This World: Materiality and Poetics of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s Reliquary Stūpa Nancy G Lin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	154
Chapter 8. Beads and Bones: The Case of the Piprahwa Gems John S. Strong Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	185
Chapter 9. Translating the Porcelain Pagoda of Nanjing Ellen Huang Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	208
Chapter 10. Luminous Remains: On Relics, Jewels, and Glass in Chinese Buddhism Francesca Tarocco Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	242
Chapter 11. Offerings for Prosperity to Wish-Fulflling Jewel Cakra Avalokiteśvara Richard K. Payne Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	260
Chapter 12. Hidden Treasures: Wish-Fulflling Jewels in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism Casey Collins Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	289
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	313
Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	353
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	357

Language: English
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 380
Illustrations
- Other: 2 color, 12 b&w illustrations
Keywords: Buddhism; Buddhist imaginery; Jewelry in Buddhism; Jewels

eBook

Published: September 30, 2021
ISBN: 9780824889524