Networks of Faith and Profit: Monks, Merchants, and Exchanges between China and Japan, 839-1403 CE

Hardback

Main Details

Title Networks of Faith and Profit: Monks, Merchants, and Exchanges between China and Japan, 839-1403 CE
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Yiwen Li
SeriesAsian Connections
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:245
ISBN/Barcode 9781009303101
Audience
General
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
NZ Release Date 31 July 2023
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Between 838 and 1403 CE, there was a six-century lapse in diplomatic relations between present day China and Japan. This hiatus in what is known as the tribute system has led to an assumption that there was little contact between the two countries in this period. Yiwen Li debunks this assumption, arguing instead that a vibrant Sino-Japanese trade network flourished in this period as Buddhist monks and merchants fostered connections across maritime East Asia. Based on a close examination of sources in multiple languages, including poems and letters, transmitted images and objects, and archaeological discoveries, Li presents a vivid and dynamic picture of the East Asian maritime world. She shows how this Buddhist trade network operated outside of the framework of the tribute system and, through novel interpretations of Buddhist records, provides a new understanding of the relationship between Buddhism and commerce.

Author Biography

Yiwen Li teaches history and cultural heritage at City University of Hong Kong.