Lords of Life

Written by one of the leading scholars of Japanese religion, Lords of Life is the fifth and last book of a multivolume project that stands as a milestone in our understanding of the mythico-ritual system of esoteric Buddhism—specifically the nature and roles of deities within the religious landscape of medieval Japan and beyond. Bernard Faure introduces readers to medieval Japanese religiosity, highlighting the central role of gods in religious discourse and ritual. In doing so, he departs from