A History of Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties Periods - (Volume 1 and 2) (Revised Edition)

Author: Tang Yongtong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-04-01
Features: A History of Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, two volumes. Written by Tang Yongtong in modern times. Completed in 1938. Published by the Commercial Press in Changsha the same year. Reprinted by the Zhonghua Book Company in 1955, and reprinted again in 1962. In 1983, the Zhonghua Book Company published a new edition in horizontal simplified characters. A History of Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties is a work that narrates the introduction of Buddhism into China during the Han Dynasty and its development during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. Regarding the reasons for its composition, the author explains in the postscript at the end of the book: “Since childhood, I have been taught by my family. Early in life, I delved into the classics. My father, Mr. Yu San, taught people to be earnest in their conduct, but in enlightening the ignorant, he often cited past words and deeds as admonitions. As I grew older, I devoted myself to the profound study of philosophy and loved reading the Buddhist scriptures. I also enjoyed exploring the evolution of ancient thought and the changes in schools of thought. Over the past ten years, I have taught in both the north and the south, often teaching Chinese Buddhist history to scholars. The lecture notes accumulated over the years were compiled into this volume. I know that my understanding of the Dharma is limited, and my knowledge of language, history, and geography is scarce. Therefore, my presentation is superficial, and the order of details is disorganized. It is not worth a hundredth of what it should be. However, now that our country is in turmoil (referring to the outbreak of the War of Resistance), with war raging in the suburbs, I have managed to persuade the publisher to print only one part of it. I do not claim that the study of textual criticism can alleviate the hardships of the times. But I cherish this work as a precious relic, willing to conclude my years of research. I only hope that one day our country will flourish and the land will be peaceful, and that scholars will continue to write about the history of Chinese Buddhism by reading this compilation.” In short, this book is the result of the author’s ten years of teaching and research, and it is a masterpiece. A History of Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties is divided into twenty chapters. Chapters to are titled “Buddhism in the Han Dynasty,” while chapters to are titled “Buddhism in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties.” The first volume covers chapters to , which includes the entire section on “Buddhism in the Han Dynasty” and the first part of “Buddhism in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties.” The second volume covers chapters to , which includes the latter part of “Buddhism in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties.” A History of Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties is well-organized, rich in materials, and its arguments are based on facts. Since its publication, it has gained fame both at home and abroad and has become one of the most influential masterpieces in Tang Yongtong’s entire body of work. No one who studies the history of Chinese Buddhism or the history of Buddhist philosophy considers it a treasure. To this day, no other work has surpassed it in accumulating historical materials on Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties.