Philosopher, Practitioner, Politician: The Many Lives of Fazang (643–712)

The introduction explains that Fazang has usually been remembered as a major Huayan philosopher, especially for systematizing Zhiyan’s Avataṃsaka thought and reshaping it through Chinese Buddhist concepts such as the Awakening of Faith. Chen argues, however, that this “Avataṃsaka-only” image is incomplete and partly shaped by modern scholarly preference for doctrine over practice. The book therefore studies Fazang through both biography and hagiography, distinguishing historically verifiable data from later sectarian, legendary, and miracle-based representations. The volume is divided into three major parts. Part One, “A Biographical Reconstruction,” surveys primary and secondary sources, analyzes Ch’oe Ch’iwŏn’s biography of Fazang, examines Fazang’s name, origins, family, dharma lineage, ordination issues, and reconstructs his life from 643 to 712. Part Two, “Thematic and Hagiographical Studies,” studies Fazang as philosopher, technical innovator, translator, court politician, religious practitioner, and wonderworker. Part Three contains appendixes on textual analysis, Fazang’s chronology, translation offices, related figures, and historical problems.