The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (628 page)

Denne
(also Den’e, Den-i)
.

In
Zen Buddhism
, the handing on of the robe as a symbol of the transmission of
buddha-dharma
in the lineage of patriarchs (
soshigata
) to a successor (
hassu
).

 
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(1577–1656).
Christian
Jesuit
missionary. Despite family opposition, he became a Jesuit in 1596/7 and was sent to India in 1605. In contrast to the established missions which sought a disjunctive conversion from all things Indian, de Nobili learnt the languages and adopted the style of a
sa
ny
sin
. Other Christians objected on grounds of a betrayal of Christianity, and he was inhibited from activity. His appeal to Rome was eventually upheld, in
Romanae Sedis Antistes
. His pioneering attempt (like that of
Ricci
in China) to distinguish the gospel from the external aspects of the Church was an important step on the path to the indigenization of Christianity.

 
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Denomination
.

A religious group within a major religion, having the same faith and organization. See also
SECTS
.

 
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(Jap., ‘explanations of tradition’). Narratives of Japanese tradition describing acts of prominent figures, especially holy men who have attained religious powers, and are not entirely legendary (i.e. they had historical existence). Most of them are Buddhist. Particularly well-known are
Kobo densetsu
, the tales of
K
kai
. Comparable as genres of religious stories are
engi
(which tell especially of miracles and portentous events associated with holy places) and
reigenki
(stories of Buddhas and
bodhisattvas
, in particular, of their efficacious powers of intercession). See also
SETSUWA
;
SHINWA
.

 
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Deoband
.

A seat of Muslim learning, situated in Saharanpur, India. It was founded by Mawlana Qasem Nanawtawi in 1867. During the 20th cent. it gained extensive influence throughout the Muslim world and ranks with
al-Azhar
in importance. Its aim is to resuscitate classical Islam, and to rid the Muslims of theological corruption and ritual malpractices. It blocks any innovation, e.g. it is resolutely opposed to compulsory education for Muslim girls.

 
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