Question 1

What time period does the book focus on for its economic history of Buddhism in China?

Accepted Answer

The analysis covers the fifth to the tenth centuries.

Question 2

How is the book structured in terms of economic themes?

Accepted Answer

It moves from immediate facts to the fiscal deficit, then to asset accumulation (heritage, land and dependents, industry, commerce and usury), followed by the circuit of giving and broader historical substrata.

Question 3

What does the book consider when linking Buddhism with wider society and institutions?

Accepted Answer

It addresses how economics interacts with religion and examines the popular social environment, the wealthy laity, the ruling class, and internal contradictions within the Buddhist movement in China.