Virtue and Enlightenment: A Study of the Collection of Clarifying the Way

Author: Liu Lifu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Since the introduction of Buddhism from India to the East, it has taken root and developed on the Chinese mainland, undergoing over two thousand years of history. Buddhism has always been a religion that emphasizes wisdom, particularly the liberation through wisdom. In terms of thought, it has made significant contributions to Chinese culture, even overshadowing Western influences and becoming an important part of traditional Chinese culture. As a tool for analyzing fields such as the history and thought of Buddhism, academic research serves as the guiding principle of this series, which aims to conduct comprehensive studies of Buddhism that are both timely and enduring. The series has several distinctive features: the construction of primary sources, the encouragement of publications on hot topics in Buddhist studies, and the strengthening of support for currently underdeveloped areas of Buddhist research in China, such as Theravada Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Additionally, it includes the translation and publication of outstanding Buddhist works from abroad.
The Huangming Ji (Collected Essays on Promoting Teachings and Illuminating the Way) is an anthology compiled by the Southern Qi monk Xuanzang, intended to "promote teachings and illuminate the way." It is an important historical and philosophical document of great value. However, it has long been overlooked and has not received sufficient attention. Although some scholars have explored certain aspects of the collection, such as the relationship between the divine and the material, or the idea of the unity of the Three Teachings, no one has yet conducted a systematic study of its overall philosophical content and its position in the history of ancient Chinese thought. This book makes a valuable attempt in this regard.