A collection of stele records of Buddhist monasteries in Ba-Shu (Sichuan Province)
Item abstract only
Author
Long, Xianzhao See all items with this value
Date
2006
Volume
7
Pages
396-447
ISSN
1530-4108 See all items with this value
Abstract
Buddhism is one of the three major world religions. Ever since it was introduced into China, it has taken root in Chinese society and many aspects. The three religions, Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism, interacted and fused into traditional Chinese culture.
Historically, Ba and Shu areas (present Sichuan), the most fertile land in Southwest China, has been an important part in the history of development in Chinese Buddhism. Historians cannot ignore the part in Sichuan when they compile a comprehensive history of Chinese Buddhism. However, the records on Buddhism in Sichuan area are comparatively limited. When we compiled the Collection of Records of Daoist Steles in Sichuan Province (published by Sichuan University Press, 1997), we have found five times more records in steles in Buddhist literature than those in the Daoist stele records.. More than one thousand documents have been found, dating from the East Jin Dynasty (317 – 420 CE) to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 CE). These are very important and precious historical documents for a number of reasons. First, the steles of each period are the records of Buddhism in that particular time. Second, the steles of each place are the witnesses themselves for the development of Buddhism in these places. These documents, which amount to over a million Chinese characters, are important literature for the study of Buddhism in Sichuan Province. They are the first-hand sources of local history of Buddhism when scholars check them with various literatures. No doubt, they should be explored and utilized. Here, I would just raise some issues on the history of Buddhism in Sichuan in the hope that readers would further discuss them.
Historically, Ba and Shu areas (present Sichuan), the most fertile land in Southwest China, has been an important part in the history of development in Chinese Buddhism. Historians cannot ignore the part in Sichuan when they compile a comprehensive history of Chinese Buddhism. However, the records on Buddhism in Sichuan area are comparatively limited. When we compiled the Collection of Records of Daoist Steles in Sichuan Province (published by Sichuan University Press, 1997), we have found five times more records in steles in Buddhist literature than those in the Daoist stele records.. More than one thousand documents have been found, dating from the East Jin Dynasty (317 – 420 CE) to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 CE). These are very important and precious historical documents for a number of reasons. First, the steles of each period are the records of Buddhism in that particular time. Second, the steles of each place are the witnesses themselves for the development of Buddhism in these places. These documents, which amount to over a million Chinese characters, are important literature for the study of Buddhism in Sichuan Province. They are the first-hand sources of local history of Buddhism when scholars check them with various literatures. No doubt, they should be explored and utilized. Here, I would just raise some issues on the history of Buddhism in Sichuan in the hope that readers would further discuss them.