Date of Award
12-1973
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Religious Sciences
Supervisor
K. Shinohara
Language
English
Abstract
The transmission of Indian Buddhism into China presents an excellent opportunity for a case study in the dynamics of a complex cultural interaction. The Prajńāpāramitā literature, introduced in the +2nd century, proved to be the most influential Buddhist religious texts during the following two hundred years. The Chinese interpreted these texts in terms of their own already existent philosophical categories, primarily established in the so-called Neo-taoist movement.
By the fourth century, the Chinese had assimilated the Buddhist ideas well enough to begin to create original works expressing the first 8hinese understanding of these ideas. Heretofore research on these Buddho-Taoist works has indicated that the Chinese had failed to adequately comprehend this sophisticated Indian system because they had been unable to escape the confines of their own Taoist philosophical system. This research on one principal Buddho-Taoist thinker, Chih Tun, questions these conclusions.
Recommended Citation
Roth, Harold David, "The Taoist Influence on Chinese Bhuddism in the Fourth Century. Case Study: Chih Tun's Understanding of the Prajńāpāramitā" (1973). Open Access Dissertations and Theses. Paper 5808.
http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/opendissertations/5808
McMaster University Library