The power of denial : Buddhism, purity, and gender / Bernard Faure.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Faure, Bernard.

Series:

Buddhisms.

Buddhisms

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women--Religious aspects--Buddhism.

Women.

Sex--Religious aspects--Buddhism.

Sex.

Buddhism--Doctrines.

Buddhism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 466 pages)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Innumerable studies have appeared in recent decades about practically every aspect of women's lives in Western societies. The few such works on Buddhism have been quite limited in scope. In The Power of Denial, Bernard Faure takes an important step toward redressing this situation by boldly asking: does Buddhism offer women liberation or limitation? Continuing the innovative exploration of sexuality in Buddhism he began in The Red Thread, here he moves from his earlier focus on male monastic sexuality to Buddhist conceptions of women and constructions of gender. Faure argues that Buddhism is neither as sexist nor as egalitarian as is usually thought. Above all, he asserts, the study of Buddhism through the gender lens leads us to question what we uncritically call Buddhism, in the singular. Faure challenges the conventional view that the history of women in Buddhism is a linear narrative of progress from oppression to liberation. Examining Buddhist discourse on gender in traditions such as that of Japan, he shows that patriarchy--indeed, misogyny--has long been central to Buddhism. But women were not always silent, passive victims. Faure points to the central role not only of nuns and mothers (and wives) of monks but of female mediums and courtesans, whose colorful relations with Buddhist monks he considers in particular. Ultimately, Faure concludes that while Buddhism is, in practice, relentlessly misogynist, as far as misogynist discourses go it is one of the most flexible and open to contradiction. And, he suggests, unyielding in-depth examination can help revitalize Buddhism's deeper, more ancient egalitarianism and thus subvert its existing gender hierarchy. This groundbreaking book offers a fresh, comprehensive understanding of what Buddhism has to say about gender, and of what this really says about Buddhism, singular or plural.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Introduction

PART ONE: BUDDHISM AND WOMEN

Chapter One. The Second Order

Chapter Two. The Rhetoric of Subordination

Chapter Three. The Rhetoric of Salvation

Chapter Four. The Rhetoric of Equality

PART TWO: IMAGINING BUDDHIST WOMEN

Chapter Five. Monks, Mothers, and Motherhood

Chapter Six. Conflicting Images

PART THREE: WOMEN AGAINST BUDDHISM

Chapter Seven. Crossing the Line

Chapter Eight. Women on the Move

Chapter Nine. The Power of Women

AFTERTHOUGHTS

NOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

Backmatter

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [401]-458) and index.

ISBN:

9786612158438

9781282158436

1282158430

9781400825615

140082561X

OCLC:

436084202