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BOOK REVIEW | EASTERN HORIZON 63

BOOK REVIEW

The Buddhist
Fo Guang Shan Institute
of Humanistic Buddhism:
Maritime Silk Road
Kaohsiung, Taiwan,
2022.pp 223
Reviewed by Zhi Yi By Dr Lewis Lancaster

The name ‘Silk Road’ was coined term ‘Great Circle of Buddhism’ This allowed them to break out
th
in the 19 century by Baron von has been emphasised, where it from the foreign trader community
Richtofen, but it is more than a road. encompasses thousands of miles and subsequently influence local
Instead, the Silk Road represents from Indus Valley to Chang’an, population. It was helpful that the
complex systems of trade involving including whole Southeast Eurasia. Buddhists who were encouraging
silk, cotton, spice, gems, tea and Maritime Buddhism started around locals to join were merchants with
many more. Most of the time, the India, arced around the peninsula resources, the locals must have
first thing that comes to mind but it later expanded along with found it profitable to share religious
when one mentions Silk Road is merchant activities. Monks and life with wealthy foreign merchants.
the caravan route undertaken by nuns move along the rim of the
merchants in Inner Asia. However, Great Circle relying on the support Spread of Buddhism through land
this book sheds light on the of merchants both on land routes and sea routes is the greatest
importance of maritime Silk Road with their animal caravans as well as transmission of culture in history.
in the spread of Buddhism, which sailing circuits of maritime traders. There was early Buddhist influence
generally has been ignored. This is Archaeological sites along the coast on Christianity, such as veneration
understandable as archaeological shows rich Buddhist influence on of relics and building of monasteries
remains can more easily be found coastal cities where population is which eventually gathered monks
and excavated along the Silk Road on dense. This highlights Buddhists’ and nuns as they moved out of forest
land, compared to the sea routes. Dr. deep engagement with society. It into cities. Maritime Buddhism has
Lancaster and his team had skilfully prompts us to consider whether we also resulted in the change of gender
utilised the data from limited are similarly bringing Dharma closer for Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva
texts, archaeology, shipwrecks, to everyone today. as local sea goddess Mazu was
commercial records and mappings seen as the manifestation of the
to tell this story of Buddhist It was said that Rahula was sent to compassionate Avalokiteśvara.
Maritime Silk Road. Sri Lanka to spread the Dharma,
and it was the first time Buddhism It is inevitable that the land and
It is known that the Sogdians and expands beyond Indian cultures. maritime Silk Roads have resulted in
their network of caravan routes have Later, the spread of Buddhist differences in tradition represented
played a key role in the eastward movement has overcome challenges by Kumārajīva (land) and
spread of Buddhism, but we must in cultural and linguistic aspects Buddhabhadra (sea). Nonetheless,
not forget that travelling by rivers and maritime merchants played we can conclude that Buddhism
or seas is cheaper and faster for an important role in this. These and trade routes were very closely
commercial travel, especially when merchants married local women and interwoven. If not because of the
it involves hundreds of pounds of their children would have been part land merchants and sea mariners,
cargo. The expansive trade networks of the Buddhist community in the we would not have had the privilege
and wealth being created through port. As Dharma practice became to learn about Buddhadharma in
these commercial exchanges has regular, they would no longer rely Malaysia, and I am forever grateful
been instrumental in supporting on teachers from India and form for them. EH
the spread of Buddhism. The their own practice and organisation.