Nan Huai-Chin - The Story of Chinese Zen
Library Journal
Nan presents the development of Zen thought in China as influenced by Chinese culture-meaning primarily literature and politics-and also highlights the influence of Taoism and Confucianism on the particular form Buddhism took there. Nan is at his best when discussing specific Zen teachings. But he often does not present enough background on Chinese history and literature to enable the reader easily to follow his thoughts on their influence. Also, Nan's preference is clearly for Mahayana Buddhism over Theravada, which he refers to with the pejorative term Hinayana (lesser vehicle). The book would be best used along with other books that present Chinese history, such as Heinrich Dumoulin's two-volume Zen Buddhism: A History of India and China (Macmillian, 1988-89). Recommended as a thorough presentation of several aspects of Zen in China, as long as the library has some books on Chinese history to provide background.-David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernardino
Table of Contents
About the Author
Pt. I Background 1
Ch. 1 Connections Between Buddhism and Historical Chinese Culture 3
Pt. II A Brief Introduction to the Contents of Buddhist Study 19
Ch. 2 The Background of Indian Culture 20
Ch. 3 The Contribution to Humankind and the World Made by Shakyamuni's Leaving Home and Attaining Enlightenment 25
Ch. 4 Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism 38
Ch. 5 Mahayana Thought 49
Pt. III An Outline of the Zen School 63
Ch. 6 Zen and Its Roots 64
Ch. 7 Influences on the Development of Zen Before the Early T'ang Dynasty 82
Ch. 8 The Sixth Patriarch of Zen 87
Ch. 9 The Great Flourishing of Zen in the Early T'ang Dynasty 103
Pt. IV Some Keys to Studying Zen 113
Ch. 10 On the Use of Colloquialisms 114
Ch. 11 Understanding Some Important Technical Terms 118
Ch. 12 Important Points in Reading Zen Classics 131
Pt. V The Heart and Goal of Zen 147
Ch. 13 The True Goal of Zen Study 148
Ch. 14 The Process of Zen: Mental Work and Insight 155
Ch. 15 Nirvana and the Aim of Zen 173
Ch. 16 On the Zen Fashion of Emphasizing Concentration on a Word or Saying During and After the Sung and Yuan Dynasties 182
Ch. 17 The Doctrine of the Three Barriers and the Realm of Zen Investigative Meditation Since the Yuan and Ming Dynasties 191
Pt. VI The Relationship Between Zen and Neo-Confucianism 195
Ch. 18 The Sources of Zen Buddhism's Influence on Neo-Confucianism 196
Ch. 19 Neo-Confucianism and the Sayings and Doings of the Zen Masters 208
Pt. VII Zen and Chinese Literature 219
Ch. 20 Zen and the Evolution of the Realm of Ideas in Literature of the Sui and T'ang Dynasties and Thereafter 220
Ch. 21 The Importance of the Relationship of Zen and Literature 253
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Library Journal
Nan presents the development of Zen thought in China as influenced by Chinese culture-meaning primarily literature and politics-and also highlights the influence of Taoism and Confucianism on the particular form Buddhism took there. Nan is at his best when discussing specific Zen teachings. But he often does not present enough background on Chinese history and literature to enable the reader easily to follow his thoughts on their influence. Also, Nan's preference is clearly for Mahayana Buddhism over Theravada, which he refers to with the pejorative term Hinayana (lesser vehicle). The book would be best used along with other books that present Chinese history, such as Heinrich Dumoulin's two-volume Zen Buddhism: A History of India and China (Macmillian, 1988-89). Recommended as a thorough presentation of several aspects of Zen in China, as long as the library has some books on Chinese history to provide background.-David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernardino
Table of Contents
About the Author
Pt. I Background 1
Ch. 1 Connections Between Buddhism and Historical Chinese Culture 3
Pt. II A Brief Introduction to the Contents of Buddhist Study 19
Ch. 2 The Background of Indian Culture 20
Ch. 3 The Contribution to Humankind and the World Made by Shakyamuni's Leaving Home and Attaining Enlightenment 25
Ch. 4 Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism 38
Ch. 5 Mahayana Thought 49
Pt. III An Outline of the Zen School 63
Ch. 6 Zen and Its Roots 64
Ch. 7 Influences on the Development of Zen Before the Early T'ang Dynasty 82
Ch. 8 The Sixth Patriarch of Zen 87
Ch. 9 The Great Flourishing of Zen in the Early T'ang Dynasty 103
Pt. IV Some Keys to Studying Zen 113
Ch. 10 On the Use of Colloquialisms 114
Ch. 11 Understanding Some Important Technical Terms 118
Ch. 12 Important Points in Reading Zen Classics 131
Pt. V The Heart and Goal of Zen 147
Ch. 13 The True Goal of Zen Study 148
Ch. 14 The Process of Zen: Mental Work and Insight 155
Ch. 15 Nirvana and the Aim of Zen 173
Ch. 16 On the Zen Fashion of Emphasizing Concentration on a Word or Saying During and After the Sung and Yuan Dynasties 182
Ch. 17 The Doctrine of the Three Barriers and the Realm of Zen Investigative Meditation Since the Yuan and Ming Dynasties 191
Pt. VI The Relationship Between Zen and Neo-Confucianism 195
Ch. 18 The Sources of Zen Buddhism's Influence on Neo-Confucianism 196
Ch. 19 Neo-Confucianism and the Sayings and Doings of the Zen Masters 208
Pt. VII Zen and Chinese Literature 219
Ch. 20 Zen and the Evolution of the Realm of Ideas in Literature of the Sui and T'ang Dynasties and Thereafter 220
Ch. 21 The Importance of the Relationship of Zen and Literature 253
search forpullyboneto see the rest of my uploads MsSVig