Shaping Sacred Knowledge: The Transmission and Legacy of the Chinese Buddhist Canon

Dear Colleagues,

The Chinese Buddhist Canon forms the very foundation of Chinese Buddhism. Nearly all Chinese Buddhist texts are housed within this monumental canon, which has served as the cornerstone of religious practice and scholarship for centuries. In the late 10th century, in the region of Sichuan, China, the first complete edition of the Chinese Buddhist Canon was assembled—a monumental achievement that gathered the core texts of the Buddhist tradition. Over the centuries, new editions were compiled across different regions and periods, reflecting the evolving spiritual, social, and intellectual landscapes of their times. Today, we recognize over a dozen editions of the Chinese Buddhist Canon, each representing a vast archive of Buddhist literature. However, these canons are not static; their frameworks, contents, and significance have continuously adapted to changing contexts.

More than a mere collection of sacred texts, the Chinese Buddhist Canon is a living testament to the deep interplay between faith, culture, and history. It functions not only as a repository of religious doctrine but also as a conduit that connects Buddhist spirituality to the broader currents of secular life. The study of the genealogical transmission of these canons offers a rare window into the dynamic development of East Asian Buddhism and provides critical insights into the intersection of religion and society.

This Special Issue invites scholars from diverse fields to contribute their perspectives on the transmission and transformation of the Chinese Buddhist Canon. By examining how these texts have been transmitted, adapted, and reinterpreted across time and space, we hope to illuminate the broader cultural, intellectual, and material influences that shaped their evolution. This multidisciplinary approach promises to deepen our understanding of religious transmission and its ongoing impact on both Buddhist practice and the wider East Asian cultural sphere.

We encourage submissions of original research articles and comprehensive reviews on topics including but not limited to the following:

1. Digital analyses of Buddhist canonical texts;
2. Comparative studies on the relationships and differences between various canons;
3. The interaction between Buddhist canons and non-religious social strata;
4. The evolution of the material formats of Buddhist canons;
5. The role of the canon in shaping Buddhist belief systems and practices.

References

1. Fang, Guangchang 方廣錩. Fojiao Dazangjing Shi: Ba Shi Shiji 佛敎大藏经史: 八—十世纪 [A History of the Buddhist Canon: 8th to 10th Centuries]. Beijing: Zhongguo Shehuikexue Chubanshe, 1991.
2. Li, Fuhua 李富華, and Mei He 何梅. Hanwen Fojiao Dazangjing Yanjiu 漢文佛教大藏經研究 [Research on the Chinese Buddhist Canon]. Beijing: Zongjiao Wenhua Chubanshe, 2003.
3. Long, Darui, and Jinhua Chen, eds. Chinese Buddhist Canons in the Age of Printing. 1st edition. London: Routledge, 2019.
4. Li, Zhouyuan. “Unveiling the Sacred Journey: The Birth of a Woodblock-Printed Buddhist Canon in the Great Hangzhou Region of the Southern Song Dynasty.” Religions 14, no. 9 (2023): 1090. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14091090.
5. Masaaki, Chikusa 竺沙雅章. Sō Gen Bukkyō Bunkashi Kenkyū 宋元佛教文化史研究 [Research on the Cultural History of Song-Yuan Buddhism]. Tokyo: Kyūko Shoin, 2000.
6. Nagasaki, Kiyonori, Toru Tomabechi, and Masahiro Shimoda. “Towards a Digital Research Environment for Buddhist Studies.” Literary and Linguistic Computing 28, no. 2 (June 2013): 296–300. https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/fqs076.
7. Wu, Jiang, and Lucille Chia, eds. Spreading Buddha’s Word in East Asia: The Formation and Transformation of the Chinese Buddhist Canon. New York: Columbia University Press, 2015.
8. Wu, Jiang, and Greg Wilkinson, eds. Reinventing the Tripitaka: Transformation of the Buddhist Canon in Modern East Asia. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2017.
9. Zhang, Dewei. “Where the Two Worlds Met: Spreading a Buddhist Canon in Wanli (1573–1620) China.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 26, no. 3 (2016): 487–508. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1356186315000498.

Dr. Zhouyuan Li
Prof. Dr. Jiang Wu
Prof. Dr. Darui Long
Guest Editors

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• Chinese Buddhist Canon
• Chinese Buddhism
• East Asian Buddhism
• canonical studies
• religious texts
• manuscripts and printed canons
• multidisciplinary religious research
• cultural interactions
• digital humanities in religious studies
• Buddhist material culture