Buddhism in China: A Historical Survey

The work is organized as a chronological and thematic survey of Chinese Buddhism. It first establishes the doctrinal and historical background of Buddhism in India, then examines the routes by which Buddhism spread through Central Asia into China. The early chapters focus on the Han dynasty and the initial Chinese encounter with Buddhist ideas in the context of Confucianism and Taoism. The central chapters trace the growth and domestication of Buddhism through the Eastern Chin, Southern Dynasties, Northern Dynasties, Northern Chou, Sui, and Tang periods, highlighting eminent monks, translation projects, royal patronage, doctrinal debates, monasteries, temples, and popular devotional practices. The book then discusses the maturity of Chinese Buddhism through its major schools, institutional structures, and the formation of the Chinese Tripiṭaka. The later chapters examine decline and transformation under the Sung, Liao, Chin, Yüan, Ming, and Ch’ing dynasties, followed by reform movements in the modern period. The concluding discussion evaluates Buddhism’s long-term contributions to Chinese culture, especially in religious thought, ethics, literature, art, ritual, and social life.