About the Author

Benjamin Brose is assistant professor of Chinese Religions in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan, USA.

Reviews

It represents a solid addition to scholarship in the field of Chinese Buddhism, particularly in the period known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, a period that covered the better part of the tenth century. . . . Those interested in political, social, and economic forces as shapers or history will be satisfied with this volume.-- "Journal of Chinese Studies"

. . . one can readily appreciate the wealth of information presented in the book, as well as the many instances of insightful commentary and judicial analysis, which touch upon a host of intersecting themes and issues. In that sense, the book represents a welcome addition to the still limited coverage of Buddhism during the Tang-Song transition. . . . the book's basic approach and presentation style are refreshingly straightforward and to the point, largely without the questionable kinds of superfluous theoretical obfuscations that at times mar contemporary American scholarship. Among its main strengths is the attention to detail, numerous instances of insightful analysis, and careful use of primary sources.-- "Monumenta Serica"

Benjamin Brose's Patrons and Patriarchs: Regional Rulers and Chan Monks during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms is a very good book. . . . Patrons and Patriarchs is well written, and well organized . . . this book represents a new high-water mark in Chan studies.-- "H-Net Reviews"

This is but one set of questions prompted by Brose's excellent study, which provides much food for thought about how dharma lineage functioned in Chinese social networks, and how the dynamics of patronage spawned Chan Buddhism as we know it.-- "Reading Religion: A Publication of the American Academy of Religion"

[Patrons and Patriarchs] is an insightful monograph covering the relationship between regional rulers and Chan monks during this era, offering a comprehensive, detailed analysis of the figures that Sinicized Chan Buddhism. Sophisticated in its breadth, it is packed with names, places, and dates that require careful digestion.-- "Buddhistdoor Global"