The Xiaodao lun (Laughing at the Dao) is an important document of the debates among Buddhists and Daoists in sixth-century China. These debates contributed to the process of cultural adaptation of Buddhism; which had to accommodate itself to the worldview of the Confucian elite; the Chinese sense of ethnic superiority; and China's indigenous religion of Daoism. Written by the Daoist renegade Zhen Luan in the year 570; the text aims to expose inconsistencies in Daoist doctrine; cosmology; ritual; and religious practice. In this effort it presents many aspects of Daoist doctrine and practice; providing ample citations from numerous Daoist sources often otherwise lost.In a complete and fully annotated translation of the Xiaodao lun based closely on the work of Japanese scholars; Livia Kohn places the work within the context of the debates and exposes the political schemes behind the apparently religious disputes. The translation is carefully framed by a thorough introduction on the history of the debates as well as by two appendixes: one summarizes materials of both earlier and later debates; the other analyzes the Daoist sources cited in the Xiaodao lun. Richly informed and highly relevant to an understanding of medieval China; Kohn's work greatly enhances the study of medieval Buddhist and Daoist myth; rhetoric; and ideology.
#984520 in Books 2016-08-05 2016-08-19Original language:English 9.30 x 1.50 x 6.20l; .98 #File Name: 1910777374176 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. So SoBy Thomas ReiterThis is kind of a strange little volume...a very narrowly-focused treatise on a small and not especially significant part of Operation Typhoon; concerning the area around Sychevka; but also generally describing the German encirclement.First the good:--the book consists of a very detailed timeline of the parts of Typhoon described above--which orders where given by whom; at what time; when units started and ended movement; etc.; and--the book uses both German and Soviet sources.Now the not-so-good:--the book is rather short--171 pages according to (I have the Kindle version);--at least in the Kindle version; there are no maps; which is inexcusable in a military history. According to other reviews there are color maps in the paper version; so that makes it especially galling.--the author relies seems to rely mainly on German sources; claiming that many of the Soviet records remain classified or were destroyed. And yet the author doesn't include some well-known Soviet materials; such as Rokossovky's account (in his memoirs) about escaping (barely) from Vyazma.--the author describes his book as sort of an addendum to Lopukhovsky's excellent Viazma Catastrophe; so generally leaves out a lot of information normally addressed in military histories; such as numerical strengths; etc.Generally I can't really recommend this book for the casual reader; it is best for those that really want to drill down into Operation Typhoon.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. An abridged version of Viazma battleBy F. Carol SabinThe book presents; in fair details; the events and operations that took place in September-October 1941 in Viazma pocket during Operation Typhoon. The author made an impressive look at tactical-level events and command decisions; highlighting equally both the German and Soviet operations.In a way; this volume reminds me of a highly researched study (“The Viaz'ma Catastrophe; 1941: The Red Army's Disastrous Stand against Operation Typhoonâ€) written by another Russian scholar - Lev Lopukhovsky. However; there are some differences; chiefly the level and the method chosen by the authors to describe the operations. The author teamed with the Bulgarian historian K. Nevenkin (for Foreword) and S. Briton for translating/editing job.In his six-chapter volume; Mr. Filippenkov’s approach is to concentrate for only a part of Typhoon; mainly Hoth’s Panzergruppe 3 actions and the battles in the vicinity of Sychevka (Smolensk oblast-his father birthplace). Using German; Russian and US sources; he provides a chronology of the events between September 25 and October 12; 1941 and I was particularly impressed by the level of detail concerning German side!There is an excellent section of 8 color maps from D. Glantz’s Atlas; including one supplemented by the author. The book is filled with about 8 bw photos showing equipment; leaders or troops in combat. One photo at page 94 is wrongly labeled: the general on the left side of the photo is definitely not Keitel; but H. Guderian (laughing with H. Hoth).The book has no “Conclusion†section (as author promised at the beginning of the book; but a wrong decision in my opinion) and the text ends in a strange; abrupt fashion:â€But in the meantime the Wehrmacht was continuing to plunder the Russian land!†(!?)Eventually; the notes and index parts concludes this short study; maybe only a chapter of the Viazma battle or Typhoon operation.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Konev's Golgotha: Operation Typhoon StrikesBy History EnthusiastMikhail Filippenkov's look at the beginning of Germany's Operation Typhoon (specifically the attack toward Sychevka) is more so oriented for the enthusiast of the Eastern Front than perhaps students of military history. Both will inevitably find something of interest here but the author's lack of historical training mean he's not presenting a monograph which utilizes primary source material from both sides to develop an argument. Rather; he's been able to document the actions of a few specific units on a semi-tactical and semi-operational level and present these developments with as much primary information as available to the reader without any real type of analysis. This makes it harder for the reader to understand the significance of some events and the insignificance (if any) of others. An added complication is the lack of primary source material for many of the Soviets units discussed because they were lost; destroyed or are still classified as 'secret.'Consequently; readers will be met with a play-by-play of the action German and Soviet units found themselves in as they attempted to advance (the Germans) and defend and counterattack (the Soviets). Unit movements; actions; attacks; retreats; casualties sustained; all are presented from primary sources but rarely analyzed. Thus; if you're already familiar with the Eastern Front you'll know what to look for in terms of significance. For instance; the Wehrmacht's need for more fuel is a consistent theme readers will encounter and really puts into perspective how much of a challenge Operation Typhoon was for the Germans from day one. Filippenkov also presents the weather on a daily basis making it possible to see where the cold might have impacted the German advance; or at least in one instance; facilitated their continued advance thanks to the freezing of previously muddy roads. Another issue that is continually encountered is the disconnect among Soviet formations in the field and higher headquarters; presumably; in Moscow. Due to the way situation reports were passed up the line; by the time they arrived in Moscow and new orders were issued on their basis for units in the field; the situation on the ground had already changed and they became outdated. Finally; much of the interesting details about rearguard and final "heroic" actions on behalf of Soviet units that did not survive are only available through German after-action reports. Unless survivors made it back and were interrogated (and these interrogations might still be unavailable for researchers) we'll never know for sure what these encircled men went through and survived. Overall; this is a good addition to Eastern Front literature and enhances our understanding of 1941 (both from the German and Soviet point of view); but a greater presence and analysis by the author would have made it that much better a look at these events and this war in general.
