Reimagining Chan Buddhism: Sheng Yen and the Creation of the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan

This book provides a socio-intellectual history of the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan (Zen), founded by the late Chinese Buddhist cleric, Sheng Yen. It challenges the image of Chan Buddhism as a meditation school and demonstrates how Sheng Yen's presentation of Chan was influenced by social and political realities. It offers a historically and culturally embodied approach to the formation of Buddhist doctrine and practice and integrates emic and etic, insider and outsider perspectives. It will be of interest to scholars of Buddhism, twentieth-century religious history, Chan/Zen studies, World Religions, Asian civilizations, and Modern Biographies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive socio-intellectual history delves into the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan (Zen), a novel Buddhist lineage established by the late Chinese Buddhist cleric, Sheng Yen (1931-2009). Renowned as one of the most influential Chan masters of contemporary times, Sheng Yen's Chan is a remarkable synthesis of Indian and Chinese premodern Buddhist traditions, representing the pinnacle of Han transmission of Chinese Buddhism (Chn. Hanchuan fojiao). Through a detailed examination of Sheng Yen's doctrinal classification chart (Chn. panjiao), the book challenges the conventional perception of Chan Buddhism as a meditation school that disregards scriptural learning. Instead, it reveals Sheng Yen's Chan as a multifaceted and dynamic synthesis that encompasses a wide range of Buddhist teachings and practices.

The book demonstrates how Sheng Yen's presentation of Chan was intricately intertwined with the turbulent social and political realities of his era, including the Communist takeover of China and the subsequent industrial boom that profoundly impacted Taiwanese society. By adopting a historically and culturally embodied approach, the book offers a fresh perspective on the formation of Buddhist doctrine and practice. Drawing upon postcolonial theories that integrate the researcher's role into the research process, the book proposes a more comprehensive approach that bridges the gap between emic (insider) and etic (outsider) perspectives.

This groundbreaking work in Buddhist studies expands the horizons of scholars engaged in the study of Buddhism in the modern period, twentieth-century religious history of China and Taiwan, Chan/Zen studies, World Religions, Asian civilizations, and Modern Biographies. It sheds light on the rich tapestry of Buddhist traditions and provides valuable insights into the evolution and development of Chan Buddhism, making it an essential resource for researchers and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032051680