Yiwen Li teaches history and cultural heritage at City University of Hong Kong.

'A fascinating study of how politics, religion, and economic developments were intertwined in ancient and medieval Japan and China. Through skilful analysis of texts and archaeological discoveries, Networks of Faith and Profit reveals the importance of monks and monasteries in Sino-Japanese exchanges. Highly recommended.' Thomas D. Conlan, Princeton University

• 1. Introduction: Buddhist trade networks in East Asia; 2. Replacing tributary relations: the reciprocal collaboration between monks and merchants, 839–900; 3. Not only for the dharma: pilgrim monks as intermediaries between China and Japan, 900–1100; 4. Building a Base for Trade: the 'Chinese quarter' in Hakata, 1100–1200; 5. Transporting goods and faith: the economic privileges of the religious network, 1200–1270; 6. Sending ships to China to finance monastery construction: trade between the Mongol empire and the Japanese archipelago, 1270–1368; 7. Resuming tribute relations and the aftermath of the religio-commercial network, 1368–1403.

Yiwen Li teaches history and cultural heritage at City University of Hong Kong.

'A fascinating study of how politics, religion, and economic developments were intertwined in ancient and medieval Japan and China. Through skilful analysis of texts and archaeological discoveries, Networks of Faith and Profit reveals the importance of monks and monasteries in Sino-Japanese exchanges. Highly recommended.' Thomas D. Conlan, Princeton University

• 1. Introduction: Buddhist trade networks in East Asia; 2. Replacing tributary relations: the reciprocal collaboration between monks and merchants, 839–900; 3. Not only for the dharma: pilgrim monks as intermediaries between China and Japan, 900–1100; 4. Building a Base for Trade: the 'Chinese quarter' in Hakata, 1100–1200; 5. Transporting goods and faith: the economic privileges of the religious network, 1200–1270; 6. Sending ships to China to finance monastery construction: trade between the Mongol empire and the Japanese archipelago, 1270–1368; 7. Resuming tribute relations and the aftermath of the religio-commercial network, 1368–1403.

Yiwen Li teaches history and cultural heritage at City University of Hong Kong.

'A fascinating study of how politics, religion, and economic developments were intertwined in ancient and medieval Japan and China. Through skilful analysis of texts and archaeological discoveries, Networks of Faith and Profit reveals the importance of monks and monasteries in Sino-Japanese exchanges. Highly recommended.' Thomas D. Conlan, Princeton University

• 1. Introduction: Buddhist trade networks in East Asia; 2. Replacing tributary relations: the reciprocal collaboration between monks and merchants, 839–900; 3. Not only for the dharma: pilgrim monks as intermediaries between China and Japan, 900–1100; 4. Building a Base for Trade: the 'Chinese quarter' in Hakata, 1100–1200; 5. Transporting goods and faith: the economic privileges of the religious network, 1200–1270; 6. Sending ships to China to finance monastery construction: trade between the Mongol empire and the Japanese archipelago, 1270–1368; 7. Resuming tribute relations and the aftermath of the religio-commercial network, 1368–1403.