modernity and Buddhist meditation in Republican-era China
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
University of Bristol
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2014
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Thesis (Ph.D.)
Text preceding or following the note
2014
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
This dissertation examines how changes at the beginning of the twentieth century in China affected the discourse around Buddhist meditation practices. It has been argued that such changes led to a move from Buddhism as 'religion' to Buddhism as 'philosophy' but also that Buddhist householders emphasised meditative experience as a source of authority. This dissertation seeks to clarify the position of a number of key Chinese Buddhist figures of the Republican period in order to add further detail to the debate. The figures examined include the monks Taixu, Yuanying, Xuyun, and Laiguo, and the Buddhist householders Fan Gunong and Jiang Weiqiao, all of whom were influential figures during the period in question.