History of Song and Yuan Zen Buddhism

Author: Yang Zengwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Zen Buddhism originated in the mid-Tang Dynasty, flourished in the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, and reached its peak in the Song Dynasty. After the Yuan and Ming dynasties, it remained one of the thriving sects. This book is a comprehensive and systematic study of the history of Zen Buddhism during the Song and Yuan dynasties in China, introducing and reviewing the important representative figures, events, Zen practices, writings, and the relationship between Zen Buddhism and the Confucian and Taoist schools during this period. The main features of the book are as follows:
1. Based on clarifying the historical context, it examines and reviews key figures, works, and ideas in the history and culture of Zen Buddhism within their specific social environments.
2. It not only traces the vertical lineage of Zen Buddhist masters but also introduces their horizontal social interactions and external support.
3. During the Song Dynasty, the convergence and integration of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism had become a trend of the times, significantly influencing the emerging Neo-Confucianism. The book provides detailed and varying accounts of the interactions between Zen monks and scholars.
4. The book discusses the realistic nature of Zen Buddhism, advocating for "taking the initiative everywhere and being true at every moment," promoting self-cultivation and enlightenment, and achieving Buddhahood by realizing one's true nature. Song and Yuan Zen practices included "insight meditation" (kàn huà chán) and "silent contemplation" (mò zhào chán), both of which remained rooted in the fundamental principles of Zen. Even later emerging practices like "nirvana through reciting the name of Amida Buddha" (niànfó chán) were marked by the idea of "the pure land of the mind and the Buddha-nature within one's own being."