Buddhism, War, and Nationalism : Chinese Monks in the Struggle against Japanese Aggression 1931-1945 (East Asia: History, Politics, Sociology and Culture)

This thesis examines the doctrinal grounds and different approaches to working out this "new Buddhist tradition," a startling contrast to the teachings of non-violence and compassion which have made Buddhism known as a religion of peace. In scores of articles as war approached in 1936-37, new monks searched and reinterpreted scripture, making controversial arguments for ideas like "compassionate killing" which would justify participating in war.