The Spread of Chan/Zen Buddhism in East Asia: History, Ideology, and Meditation Practice

Dear Colleagues,

I sincerely invite you to submit original research papers for a Special Issue titled “The Spread of Chan/Zen Buddhism in East Asia: History, Ideology, and Meditation Practice”.

Meditation originated in India. When the Mahayana and Hinayana Sutras brought different meditation methods from India to China, meditation started its journey of developing meditation theories and practices in China. From the sixth to the eighth centuries, as meditation gradually merged with the Chinese mind and culture, it formed a Buddhist sect with self-enlightenment and unique inheritance. Then, Chan Buddhism became the mainstream of Chinese Buddhism from the 10th century onward, simultaneously spreading to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Chan masters are not constrained by the theories of sitting meditation in the sutras; rather, they follow their personal experiences and the characteristics of students in different regions to guide the practice of meditation. As a result, different Chan Buddhism sects and meditation practices with regional characteristics were developed, making Chan Buddhism the most dynamic and influential Buddhist sect in East Asia. As the historical materials of Chan Buddhism encompass the written history and cultural transmission of Chan, it creates a practice model that integrates regions and customs. This integration led to cultural fusion to become the common culture of Buddhism in East Asia from the 10th century to the present.

This Special Issue focuses on the regional development of Chan Buddhism, including China, Korea, and Japan in Northeast Asia and Vietnam in Southeast Asia. From the perspective of East Asia, it explores the spread of Chan Buddhism, Chan ideology, meditation methods, and practical experiences from the founding of Chan Buddhism to contemporary times.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. The History of the Spread of Chan Buddhism in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam;
2. Chan Meditation Traditions in Different Times and Regions;
3. Chan Ideology;
4. Meditation Methods;
5. The Experience of Meditation Practice;
6. The Life Course of Chan Practitioners;
7. Newly Unearthed Historical Materials on Chan.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Jing-Jia Huang
Guest Editor

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