Barlaam and Ioasaph
Anonymous
Standard Ebooks
Ebook
283
Pages
Tools
info
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
Barlaam and Ioasaph, a hagiographic novel, was one of the most popular literary works in medieval Europe. It depicts the life of a cloistered young prince named Ioasaph (more often spelled “Josaphat” in other sources), who is converted to Christianity by the monk Barlaam, before he undergoes several trials that test his newfound faith. Although Barlaam and Ioasaph teaches Christian doctrine and quotes extensively from the Bible and later Christian sources, its plot can be traced back to the story of the Buddha. The name “Ioasaph” is even derived from the Sanskrit word bodhisattva, referring to beings in Mahayana Buddhist cosmology who delay personal liberation from the cycle of reincarnation in order to save others. Ioasaph’s depiction retains traces of the Buddha’s story. For example, both Ioasaph and the Buddha are sealed up in their palaces by their fathers before they venture into the world to encounter sickness, age, and death.
Unaware that Barlaam and Ioasaph was fictional, much less derived from another religious tradition, medieval Europeans treated them as historical persons and canonized them in both the Eastern and Western churches. Barlaam and Ioasaph are still recognized as saints in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox religious calendars.
This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.
Barlaam and Ioasaph, a hagiographic novel, was one of the most popular literary works in medieval Europe. It depicts the life of a cloistered young prince named Ioasaph (more often spelled “Josaphat” in other sources), who is converted to Christianity by the monk Barlaam, before he undergoes seve...
Discover more
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
