Buddhism, according to the editor in chief of this encyclopedia, "is one of the
three major world religions, along with Christianity and Islam." Unlike the
other two, however, Buddhism lacks substantial reference works in Western
languages. The majority are single-volume works, defining terms, concepts,
deities, etc. The Encyclopedia of Buddhism, on the other hand, "seeks to
document the range and depth of the Buddhist tradition in its many
manifestations."
The nearly 500 entries are alphabetically arranged, signed by their authors, and
conclude with see references and supplemental bibliographies. Article length
ranges from 50 to 4,000 words. There are illustrations throughout, including
three maps on the diffusion of Buddhism in Asia as well as an eight-page insert
of color plates in each volume. The set ends with several time lines of Buddhist
history and a good index. Given the long history Buddhism has enjoyed and the
many different cultural regions and national traditions in which it has
developed, two volumes are not enough to do the subject justice. Consequently,
the entries tend to be thematic and inclusive in nature, with specific mention
of, say, an individual or place being made within a broader survey article.
While the cosmological, doctrinal, and ritual aspects of Buddhism are covered
extensively, entries also treat the cultural, social, and political contexts
that have shaped and been shaped by Buddhist thought (e.g., Economics,
Education, Law). Entries for geographic locations provide nice historical
surveys of the development of Buddhism to the present day and include the U.S
and Europe. Buddhism's interaction with other world religions and philosophies
(e.g., Christianity and Buddhism, Communism and Buddhism, Jainism and Buddhism)
is treated. Finally, recognizing that Buddhism is a force in the world today,
the editor has included entries that provide Buddhist perspectives on issues of
contemporary concern (e.g., Abortion, Gender, Modernity and Buddhism).
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