Selected Works of Nan Huaijin (Volume 5) -- A Brief History of the Development of Chinese Taoism. A Brief History of the Development of Chinese Buddhism. Zen Talks. (A Brief History of the Development of Chinese Taoism. A Brief History of the Development of Chinese Buddhism. Zen Talks.)

Author: Nan Huaijin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Nan Huaijin, a renowned scholar with international acclaim, was born in 1918 into a scholarly family in Leqing County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. At 85 years old, he received early education at home and studied the classics in his youth. When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, the young Nan Huaijin took up arms and served on the southwestern frontier. Later, he returned to Sichuan and taught at the Central Military Academy and Jinling University. With exceptional talent and detachment from worldly matters, he often traveled with straw sandals and bamboo staffs, exploring famous mountains and rivers to seek out eminent monks and scholars. He once retreated to the Pingping Temple on Mount Emei for three years of seclusion, studying the vast Buddhist canon. Afterward, he traveled to Tibet, studying with masters of Vajrayana Buddhism and gaining deep knowledge of its various schools. Upon leaving Tibet, he moved to Kunming, initially teaching at Yunnan University and later at Sichuan University. After the war, he returned to his hometown. Soon after, he retired to Mount Tianzhu in Hangzhou and Mount Lu in Jiangxi, dedicating himself to scholarly pursuits. After moving to Taiwan, he was appointed to teach at Cultural University, Fu Jen University, and other universities and research institutions, spreading his knowledge to Japan, the United States, and Central and South America. In recent years, he has resided in Hong Kong, contributing significantly to cultural exchange between the Taiwan Strait regions. Nan Huaijin is well-versed in classics, history, and philosophy, bridging Eastern and Western cultures with profound knowledge and extensive writings. Especially notable is his approach of combining classics and history to explain the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. His works are rich in references, insightful, and engaging, making him a beloved figure among readers across all levels in both Taiwan and mainland China. Fudan University Press is the earliest publisher of Nan Huaijin’s works and the one that has published the most comprehensive collection of his writings. With a total of 24 titles, most of which are his representative works, this collection has been authorized by the author and the original publisher to be compiled into ten volumes in hardcover to meet the needs of readers for reading and collecting. The contents of each volume are as follows:
Volume 1: The Analects Decoded
Volume 2: The Way of Lao Tzu and Confucius, Mencius Unbound
Volume 3: The I Ching Unbound, Commentary on the I Ching
Volume 4: Zen and Taoism, Taoism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Eastern Mysticism, Meditation for Self-Cultivation and Immortality
Volume 5: Exploring the Zen Sea, Zen Talks, An Outline of the Development of Buddhism in China, An Outline of the Development of Taoism in China
Volume 6: Experiences from History, A New Generation Between Tradition and Modernity, General Remarks on Chinese Culture
Volume 7: How to Practice Buddhism, The Worldly Perspective of the Lotus Sutra, Fundamental Beliefs of Buddhists
Volume 8: What the Diamond Sutra Means, The Contemporary Interpretation of the Lengyan Sutra
Volume 9: A Brief Explanation of the Avatamsaka Sutra, Initial Practices of Meditation and Wisdom, The Contemporary Interpretation of the Lengya Sutra
Volume 10: The Subtle Meaning of the Great Learning
Zen Buddhism, originating in Northern Wei and flourishing in the Tang and Song dynasties, has a unique theory and practice style that profoundly influenced people’s values, emotions, and ways of thinking. To a certain extent, without understanding Zen, one cannot fully grasp the essence of Chinese Buddhism or the intellectual content of countless cultural works passed down through the centuries. This book, written by the renowned scholar Nan Huaijin, is a study of Zen Buddhism. Through a vertical narrative and horizontal comparison, the author discusses the evolution, purpose, transmission, and practices of Zen, as well as its differences from Pure Land Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism, alchemy, Neo-Confucianism, and Western philosophy. The book presents many original insights. Zen Buddhism is one of the major schools of Chinese Buddhism, with its unique philosophy, values, aesthetic sensibilities, and ways of thinking deeply influencing ancient Chinese society, particularly the scholar-official class, forging an inseparable bond with the history of Chinese thought and culture. Studying the formation, development, and evolution of Zen, as well as its characteristics in different periods, has become a significant academic topic. This book, written by the renowned scholar Nan Huaijin, introduces the figures and historical events of early Zen Buddhism. It is written in an accessible and concise manner, making it particularly suitable for beginners.
Buddhism originated in India. Since its introduction to China in the late Han Dynasty, it has taken root, flourished, evolved, and persisted to this day, becoming an indispensable part of Chinese culture and history. Originally titled An Outline of the Development of Buddhism in China, this book by the renowned scholar Nan Huaijin is a history of Buddhism. Divided into five chapters, it succinctly covers the social and religious context of ancient India, the life of the Buddha Shakyamuni, the rise and decline of Buddhism from the Han to the Qing Dynasty, the state of Buddhism in China in the 20th century, and an overview of Buddhism in Asia and the West. At the end of the book is the important article The Monastic System of Zen Buddhism and Chinese Society, which provides valuable insights into the origins, content, and social impact of Buddhist monastic institutions.
Taoism, with its philosophical roots in pre-Qin Taoism, gradually developed by absorbing and integrating other theories and practices, becoming a native religion of China. Over its long history, it has profoundly influenced ancient Chinese politics, economy, philosophy, literature, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, geography, physics, chemistry, folklore, and art, becoming one of the mainstreams of Chinese culture. This book by the renowned scholar Nan Huaijin is a history of Taoism. Divided into eight chapters, it systematically covers the academic origins of Taoism, its establishment, growth, expansion, and evolution, its schools, figures, and classics, its relationship with emperors, and research on Taoism. The book also includes Taoist references and an introduction to the Daozang, providing valuable material for study.