Crazy Ji: Chinese Religion and Popular Literatureis the first study in any language of one of the most colorful deities in the pantheon of late imperial and modern China: Sire Ji-or, as he is better known, Crazy Ji. The author uses the evolution of the cult of this eccentric deity to address central questions regarding the nature of the Chinese religion tradition, its relation to the Chinese social structure, and the role of vernacular fiction and popular media in shaping religious beliefs in China. Meir Shara demonstrates that vernacular novels and oral literature played a major role in the dissemination of knowledge about deities and the growth of cults and argues that the body of religious beliefs and practices we call "Chinese religion" is inseparable from the works of fiction and drama that have served as vehicles for its transmission. His analysis of the cult of Crazy Ji shows that far from being, as is often argued, a mirror of the Chinese bereaucratic order, Chinese religion offers a means of liberation from it. Finally, this study of the cult of Crzy Ji illustrates how lay believers influenced the practices of organized religion (in this case, monastic Buddhism). This study employs the analytical concepts of anthropology and literary criticism and is based on literary, historical, and ethnographic sources ranging from oral literature, vernacular novels, puppet plays, television serials, movies, local gazetteers, to monastic histories.

Legends of Ji Gong first appeared as a literary work during the Song Dynasty. Funny and entertaining, the stories of Ji Gong had gone a long way in inculcating moral values in the common people. Numerous accounts had been written and published. Eventually, the original writer became obscure. Ji Gong was a peculiar and remarkable character. He was an immortal who made his appearance in the human world and mingled with ordinary folks. Depicted as a crazy and scruffy monk, he always carried a worn-out fan and a gourd of wine. Though a monk, he was fond of meat and wine. In this volume, you will find out how Ji Gong was born and how he became a monk. He did many good deeds--helping a goldsmith to find his long lost daughter, punishing an unscrupulous man, overpowering a boa spirit, exposing a fox spirit, reuniting a couple and rebuilding a tablet hall. You will be amused by the antics of this adorable monk.

In his early twenties, the Tibetan monk Sangyé Gyaltsen (1452–1507) left his monastery to become a wandering tantric yogin. As he moved from place to place, seeking enlightenment beyond the bounds of monasticism, his behavior became increasingly erratic. While some were shocked or even angered by his actions, others were drawn to him. Tsangnyön’s followers described his transgressive behaviors as enlightened action, rooted in authoritative Buddhist scripture. Using biographical sources, Stefan Larsson explores Sangyé Gyaltsen’s transformation into the charismatic ‘Madman of Tsang,’ Tsangnyön Heruka. Best known today as the author of the Life of Milarepa, Tsangnyön Heruka was one of the most influential mad yogins of Tibet. His biography brings its reader face-to-face with an unexpected aspect of Buddhist practice that flourished in fifteenth-century Tibet.

When Wen Xiaoru was drugged on the night of her wedding, she felt that her life had turned to ashes. She thought that she wouldn't be moved, but she was unknowingly entangled with that man. Her instincts told her that this man was too dangerous to provoke, so she had no choice but to hide. "Woman, do you want to become stronger?" Woman, do you want to become stronger? The man was lulled. Wen Xiaoru foolishly wrote him a letter.

the man he loved the most was married to his sister and she was even going to marry another man who was seriously ill instead of this sister however on the day of the wedding the groom even released the pigeon leaving her to face the awkward situation rumor has it that this man was sick and also very sick but who could tell her who was the man who had torn her apart on their wedding night she had originally thought that she would be able to escape from that disgusting home but she didn't expect that she would end up in another tiger cave how could she protect herself

Early medical practices are not just a historical curiosity, but real stories about people and health that may teach us much about the 21st century. This intriguing volume offers a comparative examination of early medicine and health care in regions as varied as ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, China, the Islamic world, and medieval Europe. Health and Wellness in Antiquity through the Middle Ages compares and contrasts health-care practices in seven different cultures from around the world. In considering the range of medical practitioners in each society, and the kinds of health care they provided, it examines the development of a written medical tradition, the methods of medical education, the practice of surgery, and the theories and practices of pharmacy. Other topics include the application of medicine in specific contexts, such as the treatment of women, children, and those with mental illness. Another important theme explored is the impact of religion and state institutions on the development, implementation, and results of medical care as experienced by real people in real life. Throughout, the book offers an international historical perspective, which allows for greater comparative and critical understanding of how different cultural beliefs influenced the development and management of health care.

Three years ago, because of the betrayal of her fiancé and best friend, she got drunk in a bar and met this enigmatic president of the devil. When she fell in love with him and became pregnant with his flesh and blood, she discovered that their marriage was nothing more than a conspiracy. Three years later, she returned with her child, but she didn't want to meet this man that she didn't want to meet again in her entire life ...

"Sainthood" has been, and remains, a contested category in China, given the commitment of China's modern leadership to secularization, modernization, and revolution, and the discomfort of China's elite with matters concerning religion. However, sainted religious leaders have succeeded in rebuilding old institutions and creating new ones despite the Chinese government's censure. This book offers a new perspective on the history of religion in modern and contemporary China by focusing on the profiles of these religious leaders from the early 20th century through the present. Edited by noted authorities in the field of Chinese religion, Making Saints in Modern China offers biographies of prominent Daoists and Buddhists, as well as of the charismatic leaders of redemptive societies and state managers of religious associations in the People's Republic. The focus of the volume is largely on figures in China proper, although some attention is accorded to those in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other areas of the Chinese diaspora. Each chapter offers a biography of a religious leader and a detailed discussion of the way in which he or she became a "saint." The biographies illustrate how these leaders deployed and sometimes retooled traditional themes in hagiography and charismatic communication to attract followers and compete in the religious marketplace. Negotiation with often hostile authorities was also an important aspect of religious leadership, and many of the saints' stories reveal unexpected reserves of creativity and determination. The volume's contributors, from the United States, Canada, France, Italy, China, and Taiwan, provide cutting-edge scholarship. Taken together, these essays make the case that vital religious leadership and practice has existed and continues to exist in China despite the state's commitment to wholesale secularization.

She wanted to be a female Brawler in the game. She wanted to flirt with God so that she wouldn't shock the world with her coquettish style. But, why did she always get flirted with recently? Moreover, the moment the peach blossoms bloomed, there would be three. Uh, this was a bit too much for him to bear.

This book explores poems, novels, legends, operas and other genres of writing from the Ming Dynasty. It is composed of two parts: the literary history; and comprehensive reference materials based on the compilation of several chronologies. By studying individual literary works, the book analyzes the basic laws of the development of literature during the Ming Dynasty, and explores the influences of people, time, and place on literature from a sociological perspective. In turn, it conducts a contrastive analysis of Chinese and Western literature, based on similar works from the same literary genre and their creative methods. The book also investigates the relationship between literary theory and literary creation practices, including those used at various poetry schools. In closing, it studies the unique aesthetic traits of related works. Sharing valuable insights and perspectives, the book can serve as a role model for future literary history studies. It offers a unique resource for literary researchers, reference guide for students and educators, and lively read for members of the general public.