Buddhist Sutras: Origin, Development, Transmission

Rating:
Summary: Origins and historical movement of the Sutras
Review: "Buddhist Sutras" is an erudite, yet accessible, account of the origins and historical movements of Buddhist scripture, throughout Asia; the book covers some 2,500 years, ending in the 20th century. The book does not cover scriptural transmission to Europe and the Americas, but, rather, focuses on giving a consise, and detailed history the sutras as they traveled through India, China, and Japan. Southeast Asia and Korea get very little coverage. This book is not an ideological, or philosophical history, and thus does not cover chronological, or doctrinal developments. Instead, the actual physical sutras themselves are discussed, as they traveled by oral tradition, into wrtitten forms. There is also a very informative section on printing methods, and achival (storage) techniques, in each of the countries. However, the major sutra collections are identified with the various sects that adhere to them, and students wishing to find more on the doctrinal developments of the sutras throughout time will find this a good source for further study. There is a detailed bibliography of sutra catalogs as an appendix, and the last chapter lists valuble resources for modern translations and scholarship. A good book for both Buddhists and academics.

Rating:
Summary: reading Buddhism
Review: I read sutras like some people smoke and drink. Passing nods to the string of translators whose works preceded the English translation usually serve only as annoyances, just names creeping across the footnotes. Mizuno slices the history of Buddhism a different and beneficial way, with a study devoted to the sutra heritage. The different translators names and identities suddenly become distinct, personal, and intentional. This is no romantic view of the scriptural history. Mizuno's book is hardball all the way. Don't read another sutra without it.

Rating:
Summary: reading Buddhism
Review: I read sutras like some people smoke and drink. Passing nods to the string of translators whose works preceded the English translation usually serve only as annoyances, just names creeping across the footnotes. Mizuno slices the history of Buddhism a different and beneficial way, with a study devoted to the sutra heritage. The different translators names and identities suddenly become distinct, personal, and intentional. This is no romantic view of the scriptural history. Mizuno's book is hardball all the way. Don't read another sutra without it.

Rating:
Summary: buy this only if interested in the history behind sutras
Review: This book is only for those with a deep interest in sutras. If you love the buddhist sutras you'll probably find this book intriguing. I loved this book because I love the Buddhist sutras, particularly the diamond sutra. Once I fall in love with literature I want to know as much as possible about it and this book does the best I've seen. That isn't that difficult however when there are very few books that research the history.