Buddhism and Buddhists in China by Lewis Hodous

Description

‘Buddhism and Buddhists in China’ is a book by Lewis Hodous, first published in 1924, that offers a missionary‑scholar’s in‑depth survey of Buddhism’s arrival, establishment, and adaptation within Chinese culture. Drawing from sixteen years of experience in Fujian Province, Hodous explores how Buddhism integrated with local folk beliefs, Confucianism, Taoism and ancestor worship. He examines its role among peasants, families and society, outlines spiritual values such as salvation, future life beliefs and ethical ideals, and even reflects on dialogue between Christianity and Chinese Buddhism from both empathetic and comparative perspectives. Context & influence: Balanced for its time, Hodous’s work was part of a missionary‑prepared series introducing Western readers to major world religions. Though inevitably colored by early 20th‑century Christian sensibilities, it strives for fairness and deep respect. Today it remains valued as both a historical ethnography and a source on the lived Buddhism of early modern China.

Formats: PDF, epub, AZW3 in a Zip folder
Page Count (PDF): 49
Illustrations: No
Note: Many of the books available here were first published generations ago. Care has been taken to produce clear, readable files, but occasional imperfections may remain.