Miraculous stories from the Japanese Buddhist tradition : the Nihon ryōiki of the monk Kyōkai

Bibliographic Information

Miraculous stories from the Japanese Buddhist tradition : the Nihon ryōiki of the monk Kyōkai

translated and annotated with an introduction by Kyoko Motomochi Nakamura

Routledge, 2014, c1997

  • : pbk

Other Title

日本靈異記

Uniform Title

日本霊異記(景戒 : KOTEN:50306)

Available at  / 2 libraries

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Note

Reprint. Originally published: Cambridge : Harvard University Press, 1973

Pbk. ed. of <BA29715548>

"Translated and edited by Kyoko Motomochi Nakamura"--Cover

Includes bibliographical references (p. 301-317) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This is the first collection of Buddhist legends in Japan, and these stories form the repertoire of miraculous events and moral examples that later Buddhist priests used for preaching to the people. As Kyokai describes his own intentions, "By editing these stories of miraculous events I want to pull the people forward by the ears, offer my hand to lead them to good, and show them how to cleanse their feet of evil" (p.222). Nakamura's book is actually two works in one: first an introduction to the Nihon ryoiki, and then an annotated translation. The introduction analyzes the life of the author and the influence of earlier writings, and provides a valuable synthesis of the world view reflected in the work. The annotated translation renders the more than one hundred stories into English narrative, with copious notes. Difficult terms are identified in the text with the original Chinese characters, while historical matters and Buddhist technical terms are explained in the footnotes.

Table of Contents

Part One Introduction to the Nihon ryoiki Chapter I Background (I) Kyokai, the Author (2) Influence of Earlier Writings Chapter II World View Reflected (I) Cosmic Order (2) Man and Power (3) Miraculous World Part Two Annotated Translation of the Nihon ryoiki Volume I Tales 1-35 Volume II Tales 1-42 Volume III Tales 1-39

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