Review (PDF) The Princeton Dictionary Of Buddhism
With more than 5,000 entries totaling over a million words, this is the most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of Buddhism ever produced in English. It is also the first to cover terms from all of the canonical Buddhist languages and traditions: Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Unlike reference works that focus on a single Buddhist language or school, The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism bridges the major Buddhist traditions to provide encyclopedic coverage of the most important terms, concepts, texts, authors, deities, schools, monasteries, and geographical sites from across the history of Buddhism. The main entries offer both a brief definition and a substantial short essay on the broader meaning and significance of the term covered. Extensive cross-references allow readers to find related terms and concepts. An appendix of Buddhist lists (for example, the four noble truths and the thirty-two marks of the Buddha), a timeline, six maps, and two diagrams are also included.Written and edited by two of today's most eminent scholars of Buddhism, and more than a decade in the making, this landmark work is an essential reference for every student, scholar, or practitioner of Buddhism and for anyone else interested in Asian religion, history, or philosophy. The most comprehensive dictionary of Buddhism ever produced in English More than 5,000 entries totaling over a million words The first dictionary to cover terms from all of the canonical Buddhist languages and traditions--Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Detailed entries on the most important terms, concepts, texts, authors, deities, schools, monasteries, and geographical sites in the history of Buddhism Cross-references and appendixes that allow readers to find related terms and look up equivalent terms in multiple Buddhist languages Includes a list of Buddhist lists, a timeline, and maps Also contains selected terms and names in Thai, Burmese, Vietnamese, Lao, Khmer, Sinhalese, Newar, and Mongolian
Hardcover: 1304 pages
Publisher: Princeton University Press (November 24, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0691157863
ISBN-13: 978-0691157863
Product Dimensions: 2.2 x 8.5 x 10.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #559,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #194 in Books > History > World > Religious > Buddhism #899 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > Religion #993 in Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Dictionaries
I recently obtained this book because I was looking for critical and often missing information about Buddhist schools in China (San-lun and Tian-tai) and about Vietnamese Buddhism. I heard that the book also had a lot of Korean Buddhist references that you can't find in other dictionaries, which I needed as well.The book definitely doesn't disappoint. It is a pretty thick tome, and has entries for Chinese, Korean, Tibetan, Sanskrit, Japanese, Burmese Buddhism and so on. How many dictionaries do you know have Burmese Buddhist entries in them? Often times, the same entry will have the word in various languages so one can compare. This is pretty helpful for CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) Buddhist terms as they're often shared but differ slightly in pronunciation.As other reviewers noted, the entries often contain excellent depth. The entry on Vietnamese "Thien" Buddhism is the first actual clear-cut definition on Vietnamese-style Zen Buddhism that I've seen anywhere. I haven't been able to find anything more than cursory details online, so I was really glad to find this book.This book is definitely not for a casual or curious Buddhist. This is definitely a heavy, industrial-strength reference to Buddhist terms in various countries, but for a series researcher this is an invaluable resource.The book itself comes in very nice sturdy binding, with soft white pages and nice formatting for easy reading.
Originally I downloaded the Dictionary to my Kindle and was hugely disappointed because it was not AT THAT TIME searchable. HOWEVER, since then the publisher has revised the Kindle edition to make it searchable and also to preserve the links within subjects. I've downloaded the newly revised version, and it is quite different now. So now it rates a full five stars. To have a document like this one, so rich in resources, is a true gift! Please do know that, due to the comprehensive nature of this book, your search may not be instantaneously rewarded, but persevere and it will be! Mitra BishopThe Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism
This is a wonderful much needed reference. It covers all of the traditions. Well researched, well written this is a rich text you can use to fill in and back fill all of the other Buddhist books in your library. I came from a protestant background so there is so much I do not know about how the various traditions evolved to what we have today, this dictionary bridges the gaps. Also, I would have expected to pay $100 or more for this book, get one as soon as you can.
An amazing, comprehensive tome with exhaustive information for any novice or experienced Buddhist, religious scholar or inquiring person wishing to learn more about this spiritual path and its varied traditions and rich history.
WOW! Well-done,Noble Sons of Noble Families!This dictionary is totally wonderful! Everything is in it including Pali, Sanskrit: both Buddhist and not, Tibetan in Wylie with a phonetic cross-reference for readers who don't know Tibetan, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and English.Descriptions are full and where debates regarding translation have arisen, they are mentioned. There are maps, timelines, brief histories, and pronunciation guides. Monasteries and historical locations are mentioned. I love this dictionary! It's what I have been waiting for all these years! I have given it as a gift to sangha members also, and you should have seen the huge grins! LOL!The big problem appears to be the use of Wylie for Tibetan spelling. There is a way around this problem in the text. The dictionary includes an appendix of Tibetan Phonetic Cross-References (pp. 1259-1265), which will enable you to look up Tibetan terms by a typical phonetic rendering. The authors do want to reach a broader public, not just fellow scholars. Nevertheless, as a laywoman, I would prefer the common usage of several other scholars: a phonetic rendering followed by Wylie, Sanscrit, or Pali as needed.I highly recommend this dictionary without reservation. It is well worth the cost and will last you for years of happy sleuthing!The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism
This truly is a remarkable reference work. I am a graduate student and spend much of my time peeling through old Japanese Buddhist dictionaries and encyclopedias; it is a gift to have such a reliable English-language dictionary for quick reference (and especially with the cross-reference sections in the back for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Pāli, Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Tibetan phonetic). Given the scope of the work, the entries are remarkably comprehensive, ranging from technical vocabulary to key figures in the history of Buddhist studies as a discipline. Additionally, the various "extras" (maps, list of lists, Asian historical periods, etc.) have been extremely useful to me even in the one month of using the dictionary.This work will be useful to a broad range of those interested in Buddhism: graduate and (perhaps upper-level) undergraduate students, scholars of Asian studies and Buddhism, and practitioners pursuing studies of their tradition.Thanks, Profs. Buswell and Lopez!
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