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

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. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Translator's Preface Acknowledgments Table of Contents Part One: Introduction to the Nihon ryōiki Abbreviations Chapter I. Background (I) Kyōkai, the Author a. His Life and His Motive b. Date of Compilation and Authorship c. Yakushi-ji and the Six Nara Schools d. State Control of the Samgha and Popular Buddhist Movements (2) Influence of Earlier Writings a. Doctrine of Karma and Samsara b. The Influence of Chinese Buddhist Literature c. Japanese Legendary Literature Chapter II. World View Reflected (I) Cosmic Order a. Rites of Cosmic Renewal b. Symbolism of the Visit to the Other World c. Paradise and Hell (2) Man and Power a. What Makes Man Human b. Woman as a Cosmic Symbol c. Ideal Image of Man (3) Miraculous World a. Belief in the Spirits of the Dead b. Wonder of the Three Treasures Part Two: Annotated Translation of the Nihon ryōiki Volume I Contents Preface Tales 1-35 Volume II Contents Preface Tales 1-42 Volume III Contents Preface Tales 1-39 A. Chronology B. Imperial Family Lineage C. Translated Ranks and Titles D. Buddhist Scriptures Quoted or Referredto in the Nihon ryōiki E. Chronological List of Major Japanese Works of Legendary Literature during the Heian-Kamakura Periods Selected Bibliography Index When we read about the profundity and complexity of the Buddhist tradition, we are hard pressed to imagine how the earliest Japanese priests propagated this tradition and how the common people accepted it. Kyokai's collection of 'miraculous stories throw much light on this.