Title

An Analysis of the Debate on Hu Shih’s study of Zen Buddhism: The First Phase

Author

Tsan-teng Chiang

Genre

Article  

Pages

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Language

Key words

Shen-hui’s Discoureses, Lêng Chia Shik Tzû Chi, Nan-tsung Ch’an

Abstract

      This paper focuses on the analysis of the debate on Hu Shih’s study pf Zen Buddhism (first phase, 1925-1935). The author tried to, on the one hand, supplement 柳田聖山’s introduction on Hu achievement in Zen-study, and on the other hand, to analyze the following points: What caused the break-through in Hu’s Zen study? How he unravel valuable historical materials? Why Hu’s research didn’t attrack attention from his Chinese scholars?

    The paper points out: Though initially Hu was greatly enlightened by忽滑固快天’s ideas in his Zen study, his discovery of valuable materials and his polemic character won him more international attention than忽滑固快天’s and the reputation of arbitrariness as well. His depreciation of 慧能’s role in the history of Buddhism also encourage southern Chinese scholars to refute his appreciations of 神會. By 1935, major Chinese scholars of Buddhism didn’t share the same ideas on Zen study with him. That’s why he seemed ever lonely in the field of Chinese Buddhism.