Abstract

The emergence of new Buddhism in the Kamakura period was once regarded as a groundbreaking event signaling the beginning of medieval Buddhism. However, the interpretation has changed significantly in recent years. The era of discussing Buddhism solely through thought and doctrine has ended; the richness of the Buddhist world is now brought forth through approaches from various fields such as literature and urban studies.

Author’s Information

Fumihiko Sueki
Born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1949. He graduated from the Department of Indian Philosophy in the Faculty of Letters at the University of Tokyo and completed the doctoral program in the Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences at the same university. He holds a Doctorate in Literature from the University of Tokyo. After serving as a professor in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Tokyo, he is now a professor at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies. His specialty is Buddhist Studies and Japanese intellectual history. His major works include "History of Japanese Buddhism - An Approach as Intellectual History", "The Formation of Kamakura Buddhism - From the Standpoint of Intellectual History", and "Japanese Religious History". He has written numerous articles, co-authored and edited many books.