Theravada Buddhism and the British Encounter

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Theravada Buddhism and the British Encounter

Religious, Missionary and Colonial Experience in Nineteenth Century Sri Lanka

Asian history Colonialism and imperialism Theravada Buddhism

Author: Elizabeth Harris

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Collection: Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism

Language: English

Published by: Routledge

Published on: 18th April 2006

Format: LCP-protected ePub

Size: 743 Kb

ISBN: 9781134196241


Introduction

This major new work explores the British encounter with Buddhism in nineteenth century Sri Lanka, examining the way Buddhism was represented and constructed in the eyes of the British scholars, officials, travellers and religious seekers who first encountered it.

Historical Phases

Tracing the three main historical phases of the encounter from 1796 to 1900, the book provides a sensitive and nuanced exegesis of the cultural and political influences that shaped the early British understanding of Buddhism and that would condition its subsequent transmission to the West.

Inter-Religious Relations

Expanding our understanding of inter-religious relations between Christians and Buddhists, the book fills a significant gap in the scholarship on Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka by concentrating on missionary writings and presenting a thorough exploration of original materials of several important pioneers in Buddhist studies and mission studies.

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