Emptiness Realm—Buddhism and Chinese Culture

Author: Zhang Liwen
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Features: Buddhist thought is vast and profound. Since its introduction to China in the late Western Han Dynasty, it has gradually been Sinicized through continuous interaction, dependence, conflict, fusion, and development with traditional Chinese thought and indigenous religions. It has evolved into a new theoretical and philosophical form—Chinese Buddhism—and has become one of the three major pillars influencing the history of Chinese culture and academia. Many profound and subtle aspects of Buddhism have been integrated into the invaluable spiritual wealth and heritage of the Chinese nation. This book takes a broad perspective of traditional Chinese culture, drawing on historical materials from the Five Classics, the Histories, the Four Books, and Buddhist canonical texts. With the mutual permeation and fusion of Buddhism and traditional Chinese scholarship as its focus, it conducts a comprehensive, multi-angle, and multi-level exploration of Buddhism. The content includes Buddhism and life, Taoism, Confucianism, metaphysics, logic, ethics, sociology, economics, ecology, literature, art, folklore, and modernization. It not only analyzes and reveals the essence, philosophical reasoning, humanistic spirit, modern value, and fundamental characteristics of Buddhism within traditional Chinese culture from a metaphysical level but also outlines and elaborates on the interactive and integrated relationships between Buddhism and traditional Chinese culture from a material and secular dimension. Additionally, it explores the significant influence of Buddhism on the secular lives and value orientations of the Chinese people.