Vegetal Buddhas: Ideological Effects of Japanese Buddhist Doctrines on the Salvation of Inanimate Beings

A discussion of the Buddhist discourse of nonsentients, or the idea of plants and inanimate objects becoming buddhas, from the perspective of an intellectual history, with an explanation of the ideological and economic reasons behind the doctrines' introduction.

This volume is part of a series by the Italian School of East Asian Studies (ISEAS) research institute, which focuses on the history, culture, literature, and religion of East Asia. Unless otherwise noted, all books are primarily in English, with references in Chinese and Japanese for important terms, concepts and bibliographical sources throughout.