The Chinese Tranformation of Buddhism

by Kenneth K.S. Ch'en

When Buddhism was introduced into China at about the beginning of the Christian era, the Chinese were captivated at first by its overpowering world view. Consequently, Buddhism in China has usually been discussed in terms of the Indianization of Chinese life and thought, but Kenneth Ch'en shows that as Indian ideas were gaining ground the Chinese were choosing among them and modifying them to fit their situation.

To demonstrate how the Chinese transformed Buddhism the author investigates its role in the ethical, political, literary, educational, and social life of the Chinese. Buddhism was able to gain a wide following by accommodating itself to Chinese ethical practices. The Buddhist monastic community submitted to the jurisdiction of the state and the monasteries also became integrated into the economic life of the empire through their ownership of land and their operation of industrial and commercial enterprises. Through an analysis of the work of a representative Chinese poet the author reveals the ways in which Buddhism came to be reflected in the literary life of China. Finally, he explores the methods used by the Buddhists to popularize their religion.

Originally published in 1973.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Genres: Buddhism, Religion, China

345 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1973

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty outdated, but still pretty awesome. Volksgeist goes for broke.

[James Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy reading Dr. Kenneth Ch'en's book, The Chinese Transformation of Buddhism. The book was recommended by Professor John Strong, a world renowned expert in Buddhism. True to Dr. Strong's recommendation, Dr. Ch'en wrote beautifully. He expressed his thoughts clearly and in ways that will amuse and educate serious readers. This is not a book to be read quickly. It took me a long time to finish the book but it has given me a worthwhile intellectual journey, taken during tough pandemic times. How I wish Dr. Ch'en were still alive so that I could write him.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 4 out of 5]

a classic is a classic. most impressed by its use of Dunhuang materials to study how Buddhism preach to the masses ... hint, festivals, vegetarian feast, in addition to sutras, story telling, etc