In this book, the reader has the work of neither the partisan adversary nor the partisan advocate, nor yet of a cold and scholarly but personally indifferent student of the history of religions. The author has supplemented his long and intimate personal observations and studies of Buddhism in China by scholarly and exacting study of original Buddhist texts and the published works of other Western students in this field. His chief claim on our gratitude is his illuminating appreciation of what is best and what at first sight seems hopelessly superstitious and corrupt in this ancient and prolific faith.