Between tradition and revolution : political appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy
- Author
- Paride Stortini (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- Recent research on the intellectual history of modern Japan has shown how Buddhism provides a variety of ideas that inspire both conservative and progressive views of society. The aim of this paper is to consider how similar ambiguities and multiplicities can be found in the appropriation of Japanese Buddhism in Italy. In particular, it focuses on two cases: Traditionalist philosopher Julius Evola's (1898-1974) interest in Zen, and debates in Italian media related to Soka Gakkai. Building on an anti-democratic reading of Buddhism as the religion of the Aryan Ubermensch, Evola found in the modernist Zen of D.T. Suzuki and Nukariya Kaiten tools to resist modernity. Soka Gakkai's particular success in Italy, especially in left-wing and progressive contexts, has spurred a mix of praise and criticism in the media; indeed, the analysis of debates around this success has become a way to discuss socio-economic and political issues in the country.
- Keywords
- RELIGION, Japanese Buddhism, modernity, Buddhism in Italy, Soka Gakkai, Julius Evola Zen
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01HD3QMPTTTTZEVMDSE088GMES
- MLA
- Stortini, Paride. “Between Tradition and Revolution : Political Appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy.” JOURNAL OF RELIGION IN JAPAN, vol. 10, no. 2–3, 2021, pp. 243–70, doi:10.1163/22118349-01002005.
- APA
- Stortini, P. (2021). Between tradition and revolution : political appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy. JOURNAL OF RELIGION IN JAPAN, 10(2–3), 243–270. https://doi.org/10.1163/22118349-01002005
- Chicago author-date
- Stortini, Paride. 2021. “Between Tradition and Revolution : Political Appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy.” JOURNAL OF RELIGION IN JAPAN 10 (2–3): 243–70. https://doi.org/10.1163/22118349-01002005.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Stortini, Paride. 2021. “Between Tradition and Revolution : Political Appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy.” JOURNAL OF RELIGION IN JAPAN 10 (2–3): 243–270. doi:10.1163/22118349-01002005.
- Vancouver
- 1.Stortini P. Between tradition and revolution : political appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy. JOURNAL OF RELIGION IN JAPAN. 2021;10(2–3):243–70.
- IEEE
- [1]P. Stortini, “Between tradition and revolution : political appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy,” JOURNAL OF RELIGION IN JAPAN, vol. 10, no. 2–3, pp. 243–270, 2021.
@article{01HD3QMPTTTTZEVMDSE088GMES,
abstract = {{Recent research on the intellectual history of modern Japan has shown how Buddhism provides a variety of ideas that inspire both conservative and progressive views of society. The aim of this paper is to consider how similar ambiguities and multiplicities can be found in the appropriation of Japanese Buddhism in Italy. In particular, it focuses on two cases: Traditionalist philosopher Julius Evola's (1898-1974) interest in Zen, and debates in Italian media related to Soka Gakkai. Building on an anti-democratic reading of Buddhism as the religion of the Aryan Ubermensch, Evola found in the modernist Zen of D.T. Suzuki and Nukariya Kaiten tools to resist modernity. Soka Gakkai's particular success in Italy, especially in left-wing and progressive contexts, has spurred a mix of praise and criticism in the media; indeed, the analysis of debates around this success has become a way to discuss socio-economic and political issues in the country.}},
author = {{Stortini, Paride}},
issn = {{2211-8330}},
journal = {{JOURNAL OF RELIGION IN JAPAN}},
keywords = {{RELIGION,Japanese Buddhism,modernity,Buddhism in Italy,Soka Gakkai,Julius Evola Zen}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2-3}},
pages = {{243--270}},
title = {{Between tradition and revolution : political appropriations of Japanese Buddhism in Italy}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1163/22118349-01002005}},
volume = {{10}},
year = {{2021}},
}
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