Budismo temprano en China:

Pensamiento, cultura y arte [Early Buddhism in China: Thought, Culture, and Art] 

中国早期佛教:

思想,文化和艺术

Julio López Saco

Through eight sections, López Saco introduces us to the early days of Buddhism in China and its influence on thought, culture, and art: 1) Buddhism as a cultural framework; 2) Early Buddhism in China: 1st–5th centuries; 3) Chinese Buddhist art up to the 7th century; 4) Pilgrims and travelers: Fa Xian and his fellow monks; 5) Chinese Buddhist schools during the Tang era; 6) The entry of Buddhism into Imperial Tibet; 7) Early Buddhism in Tibet; and 8) Protective deities arhats and mystics in Tibetan Buddhism. As with any research effort, the general goal was framed by the author as a "...humble endeavor [that] may facilitate an approach to Chinese antiquity through the ever-multicolored prism of an imported religious and philosophical current that has become a way of life and world contemplation".

With this contribution, beyond introducing us to the origins of Buddhism in China, one can closely analyze its influence on politics, various philosophical-religious aspects, and its role as an inexhaustible source of artistic and literary production. Furthermore, the entire work offers what is perhaps an essential call to reflect on how Buddhism coexisted with other currents, such as Taoism, from which it drew nourishment. As an added value, the book includes a glossary of terms mentioned throughout the eight sections, facilitating a clearer understanding of various aspects of ancient Buddhism and its connection to China. Equally important is the methodological rigor applied to the work—a hallmark readily identifiable in the publications of Ph.D. López Saco, who, true to academic precision and seriousness, presents an impeccable study in the systematization of the sources supporting the book.