Buddhist Masculinities

The book explores the diversity and complexity of Buddhist masculinities across time and space, drawing from religious studies, anthropology, art history, and cultural studies. It highlights normative forms of masculinity that often go unmarked and unstudied, shedding light on the religious and cultural processes that construct these identities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 05 September 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

While early Buddhists hailed their religion's founder for opening a path to enlightenment, they also exalted him as the paragon of masculinity. According to Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha's body boasts thirty-two physical features, including lion-like jaws, thighs like a royal stag, broad shoulders, and a deep, resonant voice, that distinguish him from ordinary men. As Buddhism spread throughout Asia and around the world, the Buddha remained an exemplary man, but Buddhists in other times and places developed their own understandings of what it meant to be masculine.

This transdisciplinary book brings together essays that explore the variety and diversity of Buddhist masculinities, from early India to the contemporary United States and from bodhisattva-kings to martial monks. Buddhist Masculinities adopts the methods of religious studies, anthropology, art history, textual-historical studies, and cultural studies to explore texts, images, films, media, and embodiments of masculinity across the Buddhist world, past and present. It turns scholarly attention to normative forms of masculinity that usually go unmarked and unstudied precisely because they are "normal," illuminating the religious and cultural processes that construct Buddhist masculinities. Engaging with contemporary issues of gender identity, intersectionality, and sexual ethics, Buddhist Masculinities ushers in a new era for the study of Buddhism and gender.

Early Buddhist texts and traditions often portrayed the Buddha as a model of masculinity, emphasizing his physical strength, wisdom, and compassion. However, as Buddhism spread across different regions and cultures, different interpretations of masculinity emerged within the Buddhist community. Some Buddhist traditions, such as Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, emphasized the importance of mindfulness, meditation, and non-attachment, which were seen as qualities that both men and women could cultivate. In contrast, other traditions, such as Theravada Buddhism, maintained a more traditional view of masculinity, emphasizing physical prowess, discipline, and hierarchical authority.

One of the key themes in Buddhist masculinities is the relationship between masculinity and violence. Many early Buddhist texts and traditions emphasized the need for martial arts training and the cultivation of physical strength as a means of protecting oneself and others from harm. However, as Buddhism evolved, some Buddhist monks and scholars began to question the appropriateness of violence and the use of force in achieving spiritual goals. They argued that true enlightenment could only be achieved through non-violence and compassion, and that the use of violence only perpetuated suffering and conflict.

Another important theme in Buddhist masculinities is the role of women in the Buddhist community. While women were traditionally marginalized and excluded from many aspects of Buddhist practice, there have been significant strides in recent years towards greater gender equality within the Buddhist tradition. Many Buddhist women have become monks, teachers, and scholars, and there are now many Buddhist communities that are actively working to promote gender equality and inclusivity.

Buddhist masculinities also intersect with other cultural and religious traditions, particularly in Asia. In many Asian cultures, traditional gender roles and expectations are deeply ingrained, and Buddhist teachings can be challenging to reconcile with these norms. For example, in some cultures, men are expected to be the primary breadwinners and providers for their families, while women are expected to prioritize their roles as wives and mothers. Buddhist teachings on non-attachment and compassion can be difficult to apply in these contexts, as they may conflict with traditional gender roles and expectations.

Despite these challenges, Buddhist masculinities continue to evolve and adapt to changing social and cultural contexts. Many Buddhist communities are actively engaged in promoting gender equality and inclusivity, and there is a growing body of scholarship that explores the intersection of Buddhism and gender. Buddhist Masculinities is a valuable contribution to this field, offering a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of the variety and diversity of Buddhist masculinities across time and space.

In conclusion, Buddhist masculinities are a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that has evolved and adapted over time in response to changing social and cultural contexts. While early Buddhist texts and traditions often portrayed the Buddha as a model of masculinity, different interpretations of masculinity have emerged within the Buddhist community as Buddhism spread across different regions and cultures. Buddhist masculinities are shaped by a range of factors, including religious texts, cultural norms, and personal experiences. The relationship between masculinity and violence, the role of women in the Buddhist community, and the intersection of Buddhist masculinities with other cultural and religious traditions are all important themes in Buddhist masculinities. As Buddhism continues to evolve and adapt to changing social and cultural contexts, it is important to continue to explore these themes and to promote gender equality and inclusivity within the Buddhist tradition.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231210461