Chinese Buddhism: A Thematic History

by Chün-fang Yü Sheng Yen Professor Emerita of Chinese Buddhism

What are the foundational scriptures and major schools for Chinese Buddhists? What divinities do they worship? What festivals do they celebrate? These are some of the basic questions addressed in this book, the first introduction to Chinese Buddhism written expressly for students and those interested in an accessible yet authoritative overview of the subject based on current scholarship.After presenting the basic tenets of the Buddha’s teachings and the Chinese religious traditions, the book focuses on topics essential for understanding Chinese major scriptures, worship of buddhas and bodhisattvas, rituals and festivals, the monastic order, Buddhist schools such as Tiantai and Chan, Buddhism and gender, and current trends—notably humanistic Buddhism in Taiwan and the resurgence of Buddhism in post-Mao China. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and suggestions for further reading. A convenient glossary of common terms, titles, and names is included.

Genres: Buddhism, China, Religion

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2020

Reviews

[Jessica Zu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll definitely teach this book! very suitable for intro but also effective in an upper level seminar, amended by selected primary readings.

[Christian Robinson]

What even is a Bodhisattva at this point 🧐?

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides a clear outline of the schools and doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism as they developed in China

[Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking for a survey of Chinese Buddhism for some time and this book finally delivered what I was looking for.

It's easy to find short histories of early Buddhism and books about Tibet's idiosyncratic tradition or heavily Americanized books about zen or mindfulness, but there is very little out there about how contemporary Buddhism is practiced in China, the country with the world's most Buddhists.

Yü's book is short and sweet. She covers the basic texts, holidays, practices, and beliefs that would be familiar to Chinese buddhists in their regular lives. It's not a history book but the history of Chinese Buddhism and its major schools are covered.

She pays special attention to women and Buddhism and many of her personal anecdotes are based in Taiwanese Buddhism and she ends the book with a brief ethnographic survey of Buddhist nuns at the Incense Light monastery in Taiwan.

I have very little background in Buddhism or East Asian religion and philosophy so I sometimes found myself lost with the concepts that Yü was skimming over. This isn't her fault, though, as a book can't be short and describing every element of a complex (and foreign to me) religion at the same time.

I definitely recommend this book if you're interested in Chinese religion or Buddhist traditions!