Buddhism and Buddhists in China

This is a remarkable snapshot of Chinese Buddhism at a pivotal historical moment. Written by a Western missionary scholar who lived in China during the early twentieth century, this anthropological study documents the living faith as actually practiced, not the philosophical abstractions, but the temples, rituals, monks, and lay devotion that made Buddhism a living tradition for millions. Hodous brings an outsider's eye but one informed by genuine curiosity and extensive field observation. What makes the text particularly fascinating is its implicit dialogue with Christian missionary concerns: how does this alien spiritual system actually work? How do its promises compare to those of Christianity? These questions, now uncomfortable to modern readers, give the text its historical weight. The book captures a China that was about to transform utterly through revolution, war, and modernization, preserving a record of religious life that would soon change beyond recognition.