Enlightenment in Dispute : The Reinvention of Chan Buddhism in Seventeenth-Century China

"Enlightenment in Dispute is the first comprehensive study of the revival of Chan Buddhism in seventeenth-century China. Focusing on the evolution of a series of controversies about Chan enlightenment, Jiang Wu describes the process by which Chan reemerged as the most prominent Buddhist establishment of the time. He argues that the revival of Chan Buddhism depended upon reinventions of previous Chan ideals, which had been largely lost after the Song dynasty." "Wu investigates the development of Chan Buddhism in the seventeenth century, focusing on controversies involving issues such as correct practice and lines of lineage. In this way, he shows how the Chan revival reshaped Chinese Buddhism in late imperial China. Situating these controversies alongside major events of the fateful Ming-Qing transition, Wu shows how the rise and fall of Chan Buddhism was conditioned by social changes in the seventeenth century." "Examining the role of textual practice and the implication of dharma transmission in rebuilding Chan institutions, Wu argues that the Chan revival was actively coordinated to coincide with the transformation of Chinese culture and society. His study concludes by bringing the Chan revival to a larger historical context and reflecting on its legacies, ultimately establishing a general pattern of past Buddhist revivals."--Jacket ## Abstract This book studies the revival of Chan Buddhism in seventeenth‐century China. Focusing on a series of controversies, this book argues that the Chan revival was a systematic reinvention of Chan ideals of the past. The revival not only reshaped Chinese Buddhism but also greatly influenced Buddhism throughout East Asia. The first controversy is the debate between Miyun Yuanwu and his dharma heir, Hanyue Fazang, in the late Ming (1550–1644) and the Yongzheng emperor's intervention in 1733. The second controversy concerns Miyun Yuanwu's dharma heir Feiyin Tongrong's Chan genealogy that rearranged conventional accepted dharma transmission lines based on dubious inscriptions and thus provoked a notorious lawsuit in 1654. At the end of this book, this book offers an explanation about the rise and fall of Chan Buddhism by examining the role of textual practice and the implications of dharma transmission in rebuilding Chan institutions. By tracing the legacies of 17th‐century Chan Buddhism in modern Chinese Buddhism and placing Chan in larger historical context, this book explores a general pattern of Buddhist revival in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Focusing On The Evolution Of A Series Of Controversies About Chan Enlightenment, Jiang Wu Describes The Process By Which Chan Reemerged As The Most Prominent Buddhist Establishment Of The Time. He Argues That The Revival Of Chan Buddhism Depended Upon Reinventions Of Previous Chan Ideals, Which Had Been Lost After The Song Dynasty. Introduction -- The Context Of Seventeenth-century China -- Reenvisioning Buddhism In The Late Ming -- The Literati And Chan Buddhism -- The Rise Of Chan Buddhism -- The Principle Of Chan -- Clashes Among Enlightened Minds -- The Divergence Of Interpretation -- The Yongzheng Emperor And Imperial Intervention -- Lineage Matters -- The Debate About Tianhuang Daowu And Tianwang Daowu In The Late Ming -- The Lawsuit About Feiyin Tongrong's Wudeng Yantong In The Early Qing -- The Aftermath -- Critical Analysis -- Explaining The Rise And Fall Of Chan Buddhism -- The Pattern Of Buddhist Revival In The Past -- Concluding Remarks. Jiang Wu. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [403]-439) And Index.