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Book Cover
E-book
Author Powers, John, 1957-

Title A Bull of a Man : Images of Masculinity, Sex, and the Body in Indian Buddhism / John Powers
Published Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, ©2009

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Description 1 online resource (xii, 320 pages) : illustrations
Contents The ultimate man -- A manly monk -- Sex and the single monk -- The problem with bodies -- The company of men -- The greater men of the greater vehicle -- Adepts and sorcerers
Summary "The androgynous, asexual Buddha of contemporary popular imagination stands in stark contrast to the muscular, virile, and sensual figure presented in Indian Buddhist texts. In early Buddhist literature and art, the Buddha's perfect physique and sexual prowess are important components of his legend as the world's "ultimate man." ... In this groundbreaking study of previously unexplored aspects of the early Buddhist tradition, John Powers skillfully adapts methodological approaches from European and North American historiography to the study of early Buddhist literature, art, and iconography, highlighting aspects of the tradition that have been surprisingly invisible in earlier scholarship. The book focuses on the figure of the Buddha and his monastic followers to show how they were constructed as paragons of masculinity, whose powerful bodies and compelling sexuality attracted women, elicited admiration from men, and convinced skeptics of their spiritual attainments."--Jacket
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 297-312) and index
Notes In English
Print version record
Subject Masculinity -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism.
Sex role -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism.
Buddhist literature -- India -- History and criticism
Buddhism -- Social aspects -- India -- History
RELIGION -- Buddhism -- General.
SOCIAL SCIENCE -- Men's Studies.
Sex role -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism
Masculinity -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism
Buddhism -- Social aspects
Buddhist literature
Männlichkeit
Männerbild
Körper
Buddhismus
Geschlechterrolle
India
Indien
Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc.
History
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9780674054431
0674054431
Other Titles Images of masculinity, sex, and the body in Indian Buddhism