{"product_id":"road-to-heaven-encounters-with-chinese-hermits-9781582435237","title":"Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits","description":"\u003cb\u003eA preeminent translator of Chinese poetry and Buddhist texts explores the traditions of Chinese hermits in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eA fascinating slice of Chinese life for armchair travelers--with insights into the history of Taoism, Buddhism, and Zen in modern China.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 1989, Bill Porter, having spent much of his life studying and translating Chinese religious and philosophical texts, began to wonder if the Buddhist hermit tradition still existed in China. At the time, it was believed that the Cultural Revolution had dealt a lethal blow to all religions in China, destroying countless temples and shrines, and forcibly returning thousands of monks and nuns to a lay life. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But when Porter travels to the Chungnan mountains--the historical refuge of ancient hermits--he discovers that the hermit tradition is very much alive, as dozens of monks and nuns continue to lead solitary lives in quiet contemplation of their faith deep in the mountains. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Part travelogue, part history, part sociology, and part religious study, this record of extraordinary journeys to an unknown China sheds light on a phenomenon unparalleled in the West. Porter's discovery is more than a revelation and uncovers the glimmer of hope for the future of religion in China.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Red Pine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Counterpoint LLC\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/29\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.75lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.90h x 5.90w x 0.60d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781582435237\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill Porter (aka \"Red Pine\")\u003c\/b\u003e is widely recognized as one of the world's preeminent translators of Chinese poetry and religious texts; he assumes the pen name \"Red Pine\" for his translations. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWriting as Red Pine, he was the first translator to ever translate the entirety of Han-shan's oeurve into English, published as \u003ci\u003eThe Collected Songs of Cold Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e. Red Pine was also the first to translate into English the entirely of \u003ci\u003eThe Poems of the Masters\u003c\/i\u003e. He has also translated several of the major Buddhist sutras, including the \u003ci\u003eHeart Sutra\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDiamond Sutra\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ePlatform Sutra\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Red Pine \/ Paperback \/ English","offer_id":48363757142173,"sku":"9781582435237","price":20.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_860d4aae-2a02-4ea8-9e36-4a17e59427bd.jpg?v=1780428796","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/road-to-heaven-encounters-with-chinese-hermits-9781582435237","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}