{"product_id":"buddhas-tooth-western-tales-of-a-sri-lankan-relic","title":"Buddha's Tooth: Western Tales of a Sri Lankan Relic","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eJohn S. Strong examines Western stories about two significant Sri Lankan sacred objects, the Portuguese capture and public destruction of a tooth relic of the Buddha in the mid-sixteenth century, and the British dealings with another tooth relic of the Buddha, the famous Daḷadā enshrined in a temple in Kandy, from 1815 to 1954. He reveals how these stories reflect nascent and developing Western understandings of Buddhism, realizations of the cosmopolitan nature of the tooth, and tensions between secular and religious interests. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e                                                            \u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e                              \u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 352 pages\u003cbr\u003e                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 25 October 2021\u003cbr\u003e                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: The University of Chicago Press\u003cbr\u003e                          \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJohn S. Strong delves into the intricate web of influences that have shaped the widely accepted narratives surrounding two iconic sacred objects. These bodily relics, believed to be sourced from the Buddha himself, have held immense reverence for countless Buddhists throughout history. However, it is not surprising that when Western colonial powers exerted their dominance over South Asia, they sought to control and manipulate these objects for their own purposes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn his book, The Buddhas Tooth, John S. Strong explores Western narratives spanning from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, focusing on two significant Sri Lankan sacred objects. The first part of the book examines a tale about the Portuguese capture and public destruction of a tooth, later identified as a relic of the Buddha, in the mid-sixteenth century. The second part delves into the nineteenth-century saga of British dealings with another tooth relic of the Buddha, the famous Daḷadā enshrined in a temple in Kandy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs Strong reveals, the stories of both the Portuguese tooth and the Kandyan tooth reflect nascent and developing Western understandings of Buddhism, the realization of the cosmopolitan nature of these relics, and the complex tensions between secular and religious interests. Through his meticulous analysis, Strong sheds light on the ways in which colonial powers exploited and manipulated these sacred objects, ultimately shaping their perception and interpretation in the Western world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Buddhas Tooth is a valuable contribution to the study of colonialism, religious history, and the complex interplay between different cultures and belief systems. It provides a nuanced and insightful perspective on the ways in which power dynamics and cultural exchange have shaped our understanding of religious artifacts and the broader cultural landscape. By examining the stories of these two iconic sacred objects, Strong invites us to reflect on the ethical and moral implications of our interactions with other cultures and the impact of colonialism on the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e                            \u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 680g                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 160 x 236 x 28 (mm)                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780226789118                                                      \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Professor John S. Strong","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44095410077946,"sku":"9780226789118","price":95.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/buddhas-tooth-western-tales-of-a-sri-lankan-relic","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}