Daughters of Emptiness: Poems of Chinese Buddhist Nuns

By Beata Grant and Cleo Qian

Women played major roles in the history of Buddhist China, but given the paucity of the remaining records, their voices have all but faded. In Daughters of Emptiness , Beata Grant renders a great service by recovering and translating the enchanting verse - by turns assertive, observant, devout - of forty-eight nuns from sixteen centuries of imperial China. This selection of poems, along with the brief biographical accounts that accompany them, affords readers a glimpse into the extraordinary diversity and sometimes startling richness of these women's lives. A sample poem for this stunning collection: The sequence of seasons naturally pushes forward, Suddenly I am startled by the ending of the year. Lifting my eyes I catch sight of the winter crows, Calling mournfully as if wanting to complain. The sunlight is cold rather than gentle, Spreading over the four corners like a cloud. A cold wind blows fitfully in from the north, Its sad whistling filling courtyards and houses. Head raised, I gaze in the direction of Spring, But Spring pays no attention to me at all. Time a galloping colt glimpsed through a crack, The tap [of Death] at the door has its predestined time. How should I not know, one who has left the world, And for whom floating clouds are already familiar? In the garden there grows a rosary-plum tree: Whose sworn friendship makes it possible to endure. - Chan Master Jingnuo

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0861713621
• ISBN13: 9780861713622
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Important Female History of Buddhism Documented Here

Unfortunately, Buddhism throughout the ages has been mostly a Patriarchy. Where there were Buddhist nuns , it was a rarity to see their names and teachings preserved. This particular book by Beata Grant deals with some of the loveliest poems that were written by female Buddhist nuns. The reasons why Buddhist nuns have received little attention is partly due to the fact that men were the one's throughout Chinese history documenting the histories and collections of sayings. Lately many lineages in the west have become much more inclusive and all embracing in respect to this. In Kwan Um Zen (Korean), there are some female Zen masters teaching. Slowly but surely we are becoming more democratic in the way we conduct our affairs in our Buddhist circles. But make no mistake about it, we still have many hurdles to overcome. Here I will leave you with a poem in this book:FLOWER-GAZINGBy Chaoyi"Using the soil to irrigate them, Using water to plant them in:This tipsy-turvy way of workingAllows me to do as I please.In the garden full of spring breezes,The flowers chatter to themselves;They do not feel the need to showOff their colors to anyone!"Order this book today, it's a must read.