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The scholar-monk Falin (法琳; 572–640) was by far the most prolific and productive author of Buddhist apologetic writing in Chinese history, his apologetic activity being motivated by the political conditions in the early Tang dynasty, which posed a serious threat to the survival of Buddhism in China. The first Tang emperor, Gaozu (高祖; r. 618–626), had risen to power basing himself ideologically on support from the Daoist clergy (Weinstein, 1987, 6–7). The Daoist clergy used its new influence at c…

Daoxuan (道宣; 596–667) was an extraordinarily productive and versatile monk scholar, who left his imprint in more than one field in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Especially in Vinaya scholarship and Buddhist historiography his influence and importance are unparalleled. His biography is found in the Song Gaoseng zhuan (宋高僧傳, T. 2061 [L] 790b7–791b26). Life Daoxuan was born in the Sui dynasty capital of Chang’an (長安), but moved with his parents to Jiankang (建康; present-day Nanjing), the former capital of the Chen (陳) dynasty. To enter the saṅgha, h…

1. BegriffDer aus dem 19. Jh. stammende Begriff T. (bzw. nach der heutigen Pinyin-Umschrift Daoismus) wird in zwei Bedeutungen verwendet: Zum einen bezeichnet er die mit dem Weltweisen Laotse (Laozi, 6./5. Jh. v. Chr.) verknüpfte philosophische Lehre, die sich nach dem tao bzw. dao (chines.; »Weg«, vielfach auch als »Logos«, »Methode«, »Natur« oder »Sinn« übersetzt) benennt, zu der aber als spezifische Differenz zu anderen konkurrierenden philosophischen Schulrichtungen des antiken China (5.–3. Jh. v. Chr.) die zwei Konzepte der komplementären Urkräfte von Yin und Yang …

1. TermThe term “Taoism” (or “Daoism,” following the pinyin transliteration in general use today), which originated in the 19th century, has two senses. It denotes the philosophical teachings associated with the sage Lao Tzu (Laozi, Lao-Tze, 6th/5th centuries BCE), which are named after the  tao or  dao (Chinese “way,” often also translated as “logos,” “method,” “nature,” or “meaning”), but which – in contradistinction to other rival philosophical schools of ancient China (5th-3rd centuries bce) – also embrace the two concepts of the complementary principles of  yin and yang (…