Buddhism, War, and Nationalism: Chinese Monks in the Struggle Against Japanese Aggression 1931-1945

This thesis examines the doctrinal grounds and different approaches to working out this new Buddhist tradition, a startling contrast to the teachings of non-violence and compassion which have made Buddhism known as a religion of peace. In scores of articles as war approached in 1936-37, new monks searched and reinterpreted scripture, making controversial arguments for ideas like compassionate killing which would justify participating in war.