TheBuddhistMaritimeSilkRoadrecountsthemagnificenthistoryoftheworldofMaritimeBuddhismfromadiverserangeofaspects—thevariousBuddhisttraditions,pilgrimsandmonks,causesandconditions,normsandrituals,cross-culturalrelationsbetweenEastandWest,aswellastheintricaciesofnavigationtechnology,andmigrationsoftheAustronesianpeoples—allremarkableandcrucialelementsofthetransmissionofBuddhismbroughttonewheightsofimportance.
Inthisbook,Dr.LewisR.LancasterinnovativelyshiftsthefocustodocumentingthedynamicnetworksandsystemsofinterchangeinEurasia,insteadofthecommonapproachofhistorical,event-structuredanalysis.ThefascinatinghistoryofthespreadofBuddhismbeginsintheearlyyearsoftheCommonEra,whenanimalcaravansbegantreadingacrosstheinlandroutesbetweenIndiaandChina,evolvingassearoutesflourishedovercenturies.ItemergesthatBuddhismflowedandthrivedalongwiththebeatingpulseofthetradingnetworks.Thenorthernoverlandandsouthernmaritimetradingroutesconverged,conjuringforthaniconiccycledescribedbyLancasteras“TheGreatCircleofBuddhism.”
Thebookconsistsoffivechapters:
•Introduction
•OriginandSpreadofBuddhism
•TheGreatCircleofBuddhismandItsRim
•BuddhismalongtheSeaRoutes
•Conclusion
