History of Late Ming Buddhist Reforms

Author: Jiang Can
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Past scholars who studied the academic history of the Ming and Qing dynasties often focused on Ming Dynasty Yangxue (Neo-Confucianism) and Qing Dynasty Puxue (Neo-Daoism), while neglecting to thoroughly research important social and historical documents related to the Buddhist history of the Ming and Qing periods. They were also unaware of the existence of numerous records of extraordinary Zen insights and practices. As a result, the study of Ming and Qing academic history has long been biased toward Confucianism, yet it is not well-known that Chen Yinque once remarked, "In terms of doctrine and thought (Confucianism), it may even be inferior to Buddhism and Taoism." This book attempts to write a carefully crafted, experimental work on the social and cultural history of Ming and Qing Zen Buddhism using a new cultural history approach inspired by modern management thinking. In this book, the author provides in-depth analysis of key events such as the emergence of social awareness in Buddhist Zen during that time, detailed case studies of reforms in famous monasteries (temples), and the mutual debates among different Zen perspectives. Buddhism is a teaching that aims to rescue people from suffering, and the author, having suffered from cancer and endured the pain of flesh and blood, has gained unique insights and reflections on Buddhist studies that others may not attain!