Chinese Buddhist historian’s views of human history
Item abstract only
Author
Storch, Tanya See all items with this value
Date
2001
Volume
2
Pages
177-186
ISSN
1530-4108 See all items with this value
Abstract
Catalogues of Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures is an invaluable source of information about history of Buddhism and Buddhist literature in China. Because many important texts in Sanskrit have been lost or are available only in fragments, the data from the Chinese texts help to recover the missing links from history of Buddhism in India and Central Asia. At the same time, such catalogues present another precious aspect of knowledge for they express the views of human history, as general phenomenon, which their authors had adhered to and according to which they divided the translations inside the catalogues.
These historical views are extremely original and unique as, in them, the traditional Chinese understanding of history as a manifestation of human moral values has naturally blended with the Buddhist notions of the Dharma and karma, the two universal forces that are working throughout all living beings’ development toward the enlightenment.
The paper will focus the discussion of these issues around three works by Chinese Buddhist bibliographers: Chu Sanzang jiji (Collection of Notes About Tripitaka) published in 515 by Shi Sengyou; Lidai Sanbaoji (Record of the Three Treasures Throughout Successive Dynasties) published in 597 by Fei Zhangfang; and Kaiyuan Shijiaolu (Catalogue of the Shakya[muni]’s Teaching of the Kaiyuan Era) published in 730 by Shi Zhisheng. And it is believed by the author of this paper that now, when we are so desperately searching for the meaning in human history, it is about right to look around and learn from the experiences of the past historians from different cultures for they can teach us a good lesson, or provide a guidance most useful.
These historical views are extremely original and unique as, in them, the traditional Chinese understanding of history as a manifestation of human moral values has naturally blended with the Buddhist notions of the Dharma and karma, the two universal forces that are working throughout all living beings’ development toward the enlightenment.
The paper will focus the discussion of these issues around three works by Chinese Buddhist bibliographers: Chu Sanzang jiji (Collection of Notes About Tripitaka) published in 515 by Shi Sengyou; Lidai Sanbaoji (Record of the Three Treasures Throughout Successive Dynasties) published in 597 by Fei Zhangfang; and Kaiyuan Shijiaolu (Catalogue of the Shakya[muni]’s Teaching of the Kaiyuan Era) published in 730 by Shi Zhisheng. And it is believed by the author of this paper that now, when we are so desperately searching for the meaning in human history, it is about right to look around and learn from the experiences of the past historians from different cultures for they can teach us a good lesson, or provide a guidance most useful.