The Aesthetics and Emotions of Religious Belonging: Examples from the Buddhist World

Abstract The articles in this special issue illuminate the importance of aesthetics, affect, and emotion formation religious communities through examples from Buddhist world. This introduction reads across contributors’ findings different regions (China, India, Japan, Tibet) eras (from 17th to 21st centuries) highlight common themes. It discusses how can take shape around feelings togetherness, distance, absence, bonds are forged broken spectacular quotidian aesthetic forms, emotional practices intersect with doctrinal interpretations, gender, ethnicity, social distinction moral politics belonging. We reflect on complicates idea belonging its focus oft-overlooked practitioners. also discuss insights that our studies Asian offer broader study