Praying for Power Buddhism and The Formation of Gentry Society in Late-Ming China by.pdf

Harvard-Yenching Institute Praying for Power: Buddhism and The Formation of Gentry Society in Late-Ming China by Timothy Brook Review by: Susan Naquin Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 55, No. 2 (Dec., 1995), pp. 556-568 Published by: Harvard-Yenching Institute Stable URL: /stable/2719353 . Accessed: 02/07/2013 02:04 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms Conditions of Use, available at . /page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@. . Harvard-Yenching Institute is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. This content downloaded from 93 on Tue, 2 Jul 2013 02:04:29 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 556 REVIEWS chapters makes it difficult for the reader to see the focus and the underlying theme. By its reiteration of the features of the strange, the Conclusion imparts or restores a sense of cohesion to the book. The appendix contains the translation of four tales: The Ethereal Rock, Miss Yan, A Fox Dream, and The Paint- ed Wall. Although there are a few places that I would understand the text differently, the translations on the whole are exceptionally precise not only in sense but in style. Zeitlins elegant prose suits Pu Songlings classical Chinese eminently well, making her transla- tion