Lived Buddhism and Mount Wutai, China, in the Northern Dynasties (439–589) and Tang (618–907) Periods

A central finding of this study is that food played a pivotal role in the lived religion of communities near Mount Wutai during the Northern Dynasties and Tang periods, reflecting tensions between local foodways and Buddhist practices. Analyzing narratives from Huixiang’s Ancient Chronicle of Mount Clear and Cool, particularly its understudied 'Miscellaneous Accounts of Branches and Tributaries' section, the research reveals how Buddhism's influence reshaped regional food procurement, distribution, and consumption as Mount Wutai became a focal point for the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī cult. This approach offers a nuanced perspective on the interplay between religious adaptation and local traditions.

Andrews, S. (2024). Lived Buddhism and Mount Wutai, China, in the Northern Dynasties (439–589) and Tang (618–907) Periods. The Oxford Handbook of Lived Buddhism, 84–103. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197658697.013.6