New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

[tiltbillings]

From H-Buddhism e-list:

On behalf of my co-editors, I am pleased to announce the publication
of our new book "How Theravada is Theravada. Exploring Buddhist
Identities". This volume has been edited by Peter Skilling, Jason
A. Carbine, Claudio Cicuzza, and Santi Pakdeekham, published by
Silkworm Books (Chiang Mai), and is now available through Silkworm
Books Website ( <http://www.silkwormbooks.com/>
http://www.silkwormbooks.com/).


Its bibliographic data are:

ISBN 978-616-215-044-9

2012. 640 pp.

Paperback, 14 x 21 cm

50 black and white illustrations,
100 color illustrations, footnotes,
bibliography, index

USD 60
THB 950


Contents:

- Introduction

- Acknowledgements

- Conventions

- Map of South and Southeast Asia

1.Was Buddhaghosa a Theravadin? Buddhist Identity in the Pali Commentaries
and Chronicles. Rupert Gethin

2. The Teachings of the Abhayagiri School. L.S. Cousins.

3. Sthavira, Thera and '*Sthaviravada' in Chinese Buddhist Sources. Max
Deeg.

4. The King and his Bhagava: The Meanings of Pagan's Early Theravadas.
Lilian Handlin.

5. Sasanasuddhi/Simasammuti: Comments on a Spatial Basis of the Buddha's
Religion. Jason A. Carbine.

6. Lineage, Inheritance, and Belonging: Expressions of Monastic Affiliation
from Lanka. Anne M. Blackburn.

7. King Rama I and Wat Phra Chetuphon: the Buddha-sasana in Early Bangkok.
Peter Skilling.

8. The Benefits of Ordination according to the Paramatthamangala. Claudio
Cicuzza.

9. Circulation of Texts in Mid-Nineteenth Century Cambodia: A new reading of
Inscription K. 892 (Vatt Ta Tok, CE 1857). Olivier de Bernon.

10. King Mongkut's Invention of a Universal Pali Script. Venerable Phra Anil
Sakya.

11. Thai Ideas about Hinayana-Mahayana: Correspondence between King
Chulalongkorn and Prince Narisranuvattiwong. Arthid Sheravanichkul.

12. Whence Theravada? The Modern Genealogy of an Ancient Term. Todd LeRoy
Perreira.


- Description of plates
- Contributors and editors
- Indexes

From the back cover:

"Our understanding of the history of Buddhism in Southeast Asia has often
been oversimplified, biased, or vague. The twelve innovative essays
presented here shed new light upon terms such as sthavira, theravada,
theriya, or theravamsa, each of which may carry a variety of meanings and
connotations. Some of the contributors reconsider known data to present new
and challenging perspectives on the complicated history of the Mahavihara
and Abhayagiri schools in Sri Lanka, or the Indian historiographical
tradition on the formation of Buddhist orders/schools (nikaya/acariyavada).
Others stress the central role of lineages and their transmission, as well
as the dynamic impulse, that this problematic provokes in terms of
long-distance exchanges.

Topical inquiries based on epigraphical material reveal the force of
institutional practices, or invite scholars to analyze the textual
traditions of Southeast Asia more deeply, particularly its "transitive" mode
of translation. Essays range across Buddhism in early Lanka, in Burma during
the Pagan and Dhammachedi periods, in nineteenth-century Cambodia, and in
Thailand from the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. This richly
illustrated volume should figure in all academic programs of Buddhist
Studies."


With my (our) best regards,

Claudio Cicuzza

[Ñāṇa]

Thanks. Should be a good read for anyone interested in such things.

Here's the Silkworm Books website page for the book: How Theravāda is Theravāda? Exploring Buddhist Identities.

[hanzze_]

"How Theravada is Theravada. Exploring Buddhist
Identities"

Sounds as would it be a quest of identification. Did anybody read it? Is the general intention or the feeling one could get a splitting or an uniting one?

[plwk]

Boy oh boy I must get this book... first chapter and it goes 'Was Buddhaghosa a Theravadin?'

[tiltbillings]

Boy oh boy I must get this book... first chapter and it goes 'Was Buddhaghosa a Theravadin?'

At least unlike some who have been quoted here in regards to Buddhaghosa, with Gethin we can expect, whatever the conclusion, even handed and excellent scholarship.

[Kumara]

Sounds as would it be a quest of identification. Did anybody read it? Is the general intention or the feeling one could get a splitting or an uniting one?

I've not got the book (though we've ordered) but has read Skilling's earlier draft for his part. It's neither splitting or an uniting. It's truth-seeking. My kind of book.

[daverupa]

I read the book with interest and satisfaction. I highly recommend it.

[gavesako]

Having received a copy of "How Theravada is Theravada", I have been reading through some of the chapters describing the history of "Pali imaginaire" in SE Asia and Thailand in particular. This book is loaded with lots of historical information opening up a whole new perspective on what we generally understand by "Theravada Buddhism" -- so I expect a few revisions will have to be made. But how many people will take the trouble to read it? It is attractively presented with many photographs as well, so this should make the book more readable, even if one is not going to read it from cover to cover. The chapter on simas is quite relevant for me, as is the chapter on the Thai kings and their understanding of Buddhism influenced by Western scholars.

Here is one interesting table from the book illustrating the use of the term "Theravada":

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HmIbP ... 2012-10-20