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

Author: People's Liberation Army Publishing House
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-04-20
Features: A History of Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, in two volumes. Written by Tang Yongtong in modern times. It was completed in 1938 and published by the Commercial Press in Changsha the same year. It was reprinted by the Zhonghua Book Company in 1955 and 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 historical 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 studied the classics. My father, Mr. Yu San, taught people to be earnest in moral conduct, but in enlightening the ignorant, he often used past words and actions to advise. As I grew older, I devoted myself to the profound study of philosophy and always loved reading the Buddhist scriptures. I also enjoyed exploring the evolution of ancient thought and the changes in sects. For the past ten years, I have taught in both the north and the south, often teaching the history of Chinese Buddhism to scholars. Over the years, my lecture notes have been compiled into volumes. I know that I have only a superficial understanding of the Dharma and have not yet achieved my goals. I have little knowledge of language, history, and geography. Therefore, my descriptions are shallow, and the order of details is disorganized. None of it is suitable. 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 publish only one part of it. I do not mean to say that the study of textual research can solve the difficulties of the times, but I cherish my work as a treasure and wish to conclude my years of research. I only hope that one day our country will flourish and the land will be peaceful, and scholars will continue to write about the history of Chinese Buddhism by reading this book.” 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 5 are titled "The Buddhism of the Han Dynasty," while chapters 6 to 20 are titled "The Buddhism of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties." The first volume covers chapters to 12, which includes the entire "The Buddhism of the Han Dynasty" and the first part of "The Buddhism of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties." The second volume covers chapters 13 to 20, which includes the latter part of "The Buddhism of 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 works in Tang Yongtong's entire body of writings. 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.