Volume III Buddhist Asia

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Volume III Buddhist Asia

Edited by: Christoph Kleine , Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz and Hubert Seiwert

Part of the multi-volume work

Global Secularity. A Sourcebook

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2025

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About this book

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This volume seeks to chart and elucidate the diverse relationships between the religious and secular spheres in regions of Asia that were significantly influenced – sometimes even dominated – by Buddhist discourses, ideas, and institutions. These regions include South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), East and Southeast Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam), Inner Asia (Buryatia, Mongolia, Tibet), and the Himalayan region (Bhutan). These regions were connected by communicative networks long before the global modern age. They constituted an intricately entangled discursive sphere, shaped by the cross-regional spread of concepts and ideas from Buddhism and, in East Asia, Confucianism. The volume sheds light on the prehistory and development of culturally specific forms of secularity, and related concepts, in Asia. It comprises a wide range of texts spanning approximately 2000 years; in many cases this is the first time that they have been presented in English. The texts here are not merely reproduced, but are also introduced and contextualized. Through these materials, the volume highlights the fact that distinctions akin to those between the ‘religious’ and the ‘secular’ were already prevalent in premodern Asia, laying the groundwork for the various forms of secularity which took shape in the modern period.

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Frontmatter
I

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Contents
V

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Instructions for Use
XI

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About the Editors
XIII

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Secularity in South Asia, East Asia, Inner Asia and the Himalayan Region: Introduction
1
Christoph Kleine, Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz and Hubert Seiwert

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South Asia
Buddhist India & Sri Lanka
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1 The Dīgha Nikāya: The Discourse of Ambattha (ca. 5th–1st Century BCE)
35
Sven Bretfeld

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2 The Dīgha Nikāya: The Discourse of the Lion’s Roar of a Wheel-Turning Monarch (ca. 5th–1st Century BCE)
38
Sven Bretfeld

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3 King Kassapa V: Anurādhapura Slab Inscription (919 CE)
42
Sven Bretfeld

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4 Jayabāhu Dharmakīrti: Compendium of the Buddhist Lineages (14th or 15th Century)
49
Sven Bretfeld

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5 Anāgatavaṃsa (Deśanā): The Chronicle of the Future (date uncertain, before 14th Century)
53
Sven Bretfeld

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6 Anāgatavaṃsa (Deśanā): Exposition of the Chronicle of the Future (ca. 14th Century)
58
Sven Bretfeld

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7 The Dīgha Nikāya: The Discourse of the Lion’s Roar of a Wheel-Turning Monarch (ca. 5th–1st Century BCE)
62
Sven Bretfeld

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8 D. C. Wijewardena: The Revolt in the Temple (1953)
70
Sven Bretfeld

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East Asia
China
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9 Mozi: Defending the Belief in the Existence of Gods and Spirits (ca. 5th Century BCE)
99
Hubert Seiwert

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10 Xunzi: Rational Interpretation of Nature and the Rejection of the Belief in Spirits (ca. 3rd Century BCE)
103
Hubert Seiwert

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11 The Controversy Over the Relationship Between Buddhism and the State in the Fourth Century (4th Century)
109
Hubert Seiwert

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12 The Sacred and the Secular in a Medieval Chinese Buddhist Scripture – The Sūtra on the Analogy of the Physician (ca. 1000 CE)
115
C. Pierce Salguero

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13 Han Yu: Critique of Buddhism (819 CE)
119
Hubert Seiwert

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14 Religion in the Law Codes of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1552)
123
Hubert Seiwert

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15 Li Fu: The Shortcomings of Teachings Dealing with Transcendent Matters (1740)
128
Hubert Seiwert

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16 Peng Guangyu: Confucianism is Not a Religion (1893)
134
Hubert Seiwert

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17 Kang Youwei: Proposal to Establish Confucianism as the State Religion (1898)
144
Hubert Seiwert

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18 Chen Duxiu: On the Question of a Confucian State Religion (1917)
156
Yee Lak Elliot Lee

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19 Mao Zedong: Overthrowing Religious Authority (1927)
163
Hubert Seiwert

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20 The Chinese Communist Party’s View on Religion (1982)
169
Hubert Seiwert

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Vietnam
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21 Lê Quý Đôn: Categorised Discourse from the Palace Library (1773)
183
Yasmin Koppen

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Korea
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22 Ch’oe Han’gi: Rectification of the Teachings and Doctrines of the World According to Heaven and Man (1833)
195
Marion Eggert

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Japan
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23 Jōkei: The Kōfukuji Petition (1205)
203
Christoph Kleine

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24 Ji’en: Notes on Foolish Views (ca. 1220)
207
Christoph Kleine

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25 Clergy of the Enryakuji: Statement by the Great Assembly [of Monks] of the Enryakuji – Notes on Stopping the [Movement of the] Single-Minded and Exclusive Practice [of Buddha- Recollection] (1224)
213
Christoph Kleine

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26 Nichiren: On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice (1277)
217
Christoph Kleine

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27 Nichiren: On the Receiving of the Three Great Secret Laws (1281)
221
Christoph Kleine

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28 Zonkaku: On Destroying the False and Revealing the Correct (1344)
224
Christoph Kleine

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29 Musō Soseki: Dialogues in a Dream (1344)
227
Christoph Kleine

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30 Anonymous: Tale of the Heike (ca. 1371)
235
Christoph Kleine

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31 Rennyo: Letters of Saint Rennyo (1474/75/76)
240
Christoph Kleine

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32 Luís Fróis: Of the Conversion of Dōsan (1585)
245
Katja Triplett

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33 Anonymous: Decree on Banishing Christian Missionaries (1587)
250
Katja Triplett

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34 Ishin Sūden: Statement on the Expulsion of the Missionaries (1614)
252
Katja Triplett

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35 Shingyō: Mountains, Seas and Villages (1825)
257
Christoph Kleine

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36 Shimaji Mokurai: The Source of Religion (1872)
261
Hans Martin Krämer

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37 Fukuda Gidō: Discussing the Primacy of the Ruler’s Law in the True School [of Pure Land Buddhism] (1877)
268
Christoph Kleine

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38 Hakoya Tokuryō: On the Doctrine of Buddha Dharma and Ruler’s Law Being Like Wheels and Wings (1887)
275
Christoph Kleine

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39 Suzuki Daisetsu Teitarō: A New Theory of Religion (Shin-shūkyō ron新宗教論, 1896)
285
Christoph Kleine

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40 The Treatment of ‘Religion’ in the Constitutions of Japan (1889, 1947) and Proposed Revisions to Articles 20 and 89 of the Postwar Constitution by the Liberal Democratic Party (2012)
295
Mark R. Mullins

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41 The Liberal Democratic Party’s Constitutional Reform Promotion Department: Questions and Answers to the Draft Proposal for Revisions to the Constitution of Japan (2013)
301
Christoph Kleine

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42 Supreme Commander of Allied Powers (SCAP): The Shinto Directive 15 December 1945
303
Mark R. Mullins

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43 Yoshihiko Ashizu: The Shinto Directive and Constitution from the Standpoint of a Shintoist (1960)
309
Mark R. Mullins

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44 Shinshū Ōtani-ha: Resolution Against the ‘Revision’ of the Fundamental Law of Education (2004) and Comment by the Shinshū Ōtani-ha President on the ‘Revision of the Organ Transplant Law’ (2009)
312
Ugo Dessì

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Inner Asia and the Himalayas
Tibet
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45 The Fifth Dalai Lama: The Pearl Rosary: Advice on Combining the Two Traditions (undated, ca. 1645)
321
Matthew W. King

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46 Doring Tenzin Penjor: The Biography of Doring Paṇḍita (ca. 1806)
330
Franz Xaver Erhard

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47 Gendun Chopel: Grains of Gold: Tales of a Cosmopolitan Traveler (1940/1941)
336
Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz

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Bhutan
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48 Zhapdrung Ngawang Namgyel: Sixteen I’s (ca. first half 17th Century)
343
Dagmar Schwerk

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49 Bhutanese Legal Code from 1729
348
Dagmar Schwerk

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Mongolia
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50 Qutuγtai Sečen Qung Tayiji, comp.: The White History of the Ten Meritorious Doctrines (16th Century)
363
Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz

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51 Zava Damdin Lubsangdamdin: Annotations that Clarify the Meaning of Some of the Holy Emperors’ Secret Prophecies (1924)
367
Matthew W. King

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Buryatia
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52 Wangdan Yum čüng: History of the Qori Buryats (1875)
375
Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz

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List of Figures
379

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Global Secularity. A Sourcebook
381

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Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

April 21, 2025

eBook ISBN:

9783111254081

Hardcover published on:

April 21, 2025

Hardcover ISBN:

9783111217345

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Front matter:

13

Main content:

377

Illustrations:

3

Coloured Illustrations:

2

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111254081

eBook ISBN: 9783111254081

Hardcover ISBN: 9783111217345

Keywords for this book

Secularism; Global History

Audience(s) for this book

Scholars in secularism and religious science.

Creative Commons

BY 4.0

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Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Genthiner Straße 13
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Volume III Buddhist Asia

Overview

About this book

Topics

Table of contents

Frontmatter

Contents

Instructions for Use

About the Editors

Secularity in South Asia, East Asia, Inner Asia and the Himalayan Region: Introduction

1 The Dīgha Nikāya: The Discourse of Ambattha (ca. 5th–1st Century BCE)

2 The Dīgha Nikāya: The Discourse of the Lion’s Roar of a Wheel-Turning Monarch (ca. 5th–1st Century BCE)

3 King Kassapa V: Anurādhapura Slab Inscription (919 CE)

4 Jayabāhu Dharmakīrti: Compendium of the Buddhist Lineages (14th or 15th Century)

5 Anāgatavaṃsa (Deśanā): The Chronicle of the Future (date uncertain, before 14th Century)

6 Anāgatavaṃsa (Deśanā): Exposition of the Chronicle of the Future (ca. 14th Century)

7 The Dīgha Nikāya: The Discourse of the Lion’s Roar of a Wheel-Turning Monarch (ca. 5th–1st Century BCE)

8 D. C. Wijewardena: The Revolt in the Temple (1953)

9 Mozi: Defending the Belief in the Existence of Gods and Spirits (ca. 5th Century BCE)

10 Xunzi: Rational Interpretation of Nature and the Rejection of the Belief in Spirits (ca. 3rd Century BCE)

11 The Controversy Over the Relationship Between Buddhism and the State in the Fourth Century (4th Century)

12 The Sacred and the Secular in a Medieval Chinese Buddhist Scripture – The Sūtra on the Analogy of the Physician (ca. 1000 CE)

13 Han Yu: Critique of Buddhism (819 CE)

14 Religion in the Law Codes of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1552)

15 Li Fu: The Shortcomings of Teachings Dealing with Transcendent Matters (1740)

16 Peng Guangyu: Confucianism is Not a Religion (1893)

17 Kang Youwei: Proposal to Establish Confucianism as the State Religion (1898)

18 Chen Duxiu: On the Question of a Confucian State Religion (1917)

19 Mao Zedong: Overthrowing Religious Authority (1927)

20 The Chinese Communist Party’s View on Religion (1982)

21 Lê Quý Đôn: Categorised Discourse from the Palace Library (1773)

22 Ch’oe Han’gi: Rectification of the Teachings and Doctrines of the World According to Heaven and Man (1833)

23 Jōkei: The Kōfukuji Petition (1205)

24 Ji’en: Notes on Foolish Views (ca. 1220)

25 Clergy of the Enryakuji: Statement by the Great Assembly [of Monks] of the Enryakuji – Notes on Stopping the [Movement of the] Single-Minded and Exclusive Practice [of Buddha- Recollection] (1224)

26 Nichiren: On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice (1277)

27 Nichiren: On the Receiving of the Three Great Secret Laws (1281)

28 Zonkaku: On Destroying the False and Revealing the Correct (1344)

29 Musō Soseki: Dialogues in a Dream (1344)

30 Anonymous: Tale of the Heike (ca. 1371)

31 Rennyo: Letters of Saint Rennyo (1474/75/76)

32 Luís Fróis: Of the Conversion of Dōsan (1585)

33 Anonymous: Decree on Banishing Christian Missionaries (1587)

34 Ishin Sūden: Statement on the Expulsion of the Missionaries (1614)

35 Shingyō: Mountains, Seas and Villages (1825)

36 Shimaji Mokurai: The Source of Religion (1872)

37 Fukuda Gidō: Discussing the Primacy of the Ruler’s Law in the True School [of Pure Land Buddhism] (1877)

38 Hakoya Tokuryō: On the Doctrine of Buddha Dharma and Ruler’s Law Being Like Wheels and Wings (1887)

39 Suzuki Daisetsu Teitarō: A New Theory of Religion (Shin-shūkyō ron新宗教論, 1896)

40 The Treatment of ‘Religion’ in the Constitutions of Japan (1889, 1947) and Proposed Revisions to Articles 20 and 89 of the Postwar Constitution by the Liberal Democratic Party (2012)

41 The Liberal Democratic Party’s Constitutional Reform Promotion Department: Questions and Answers to the Draft Proposal for Revisions to the Constitution of Japan (2013)

42 Supreme Commander of Allied Powers (SCAP): The Shinto Directive 15 December 1945

43 Yoshihiko Ashizu: The Shinto Directive and Constitution from the Standpoint of a Shintoist (1960)

44 Shinshū Ōtani-ha: Resolution Against the ‘Revision’ of the Fundamental Law of Education (2004) and Comment by the Shinshū Ōtani-ha President on the ‘Revision of the Organ Transplant Law’ (2009)

45 The Fifth Dalai Lama: The Pearl Rosary: Advice on Combining the Two Traditions (undated, ca. 1645)

46 Doring Tenzin Penjor: The Biography of Doring Paṇḍita (ca. 1806)

47 Gendun Chopel: Grains of Gold: Tales of a Cosmopolitan Traveler (1940/1941)

48 Zhapdrung Ngawang Namgyel: Sixteen I’s (ca. first half 17th Century)

49 Bhutanese Legal Code from 1729

50 Qutuγtai Sečen Qung Tayiji, comp.: The White History of the Ten Meritorious Doctrines (16th Century)

51 Zava Damdin Lubsangdamdin: Annotations that Clarify the Meaning of Some of the Holy Emperors’ Secret Prophecies (1924)

52 Wangdan Yum čüng: History of the Qori Buryats (1875)

List of Figures

Global Secularity. A Sourcebook

Bibliographic data