Yongming Yanshou's Conception of Chan in the Zongjing lu: A Special Transmission Within the Scriptures
"Albert Welter has produced his third consecutive outstanding book in recent years documenting the history of Chinese Chan Buddhism during its formative period. In this volume, he treats the crucial figure, Yongming Yanshou, with great skill and insight. The historical materials are compelling, the sources and citations are first-rate, and the translations are reliable and readable. This is another must-read for scholars and students of the Chan school."--Steven Heine, Professor and Director of Asian Studies, Florida International University"Albert Welter's examination of Chan through the interpretive lens of the eminent Five Dynasties scholar monk Yongming Yanshou offers a distinctive view of the tradition as grounded in scripture and textual study that contrasts sharply with the dominant narrative shaped by Song sources. This excellent study challenges our understanding of Chan history in the Tang, deepens our knowledge of intellectual currents in the Tang-Song transition, and broadens our grasp of the philosophical relationship between Buddhism and Confucianism in the Song."-- Daniel Getz, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Bradley University"In this landmark work, Welter restores Yanshou to his rightful Chan identity, redeeming him from marginalization as a non-Chan scholastic or Pure Land-Chan syncretist; and positions him as the mainstay of a Song 'Buddhist School of Principle' alongside the 'Linji Chan Mind School.' Welter also brings to light invaluable Chan materials from the extensiveZongjing luthat have long been ignored. In highlighting the existence of a 'principled' Chan, the book breaks new ground."-- Jeffrey L. Broughton, author ofZongmi on Chan"Equisite!"--Zen and Back Again:Zen Master Yanshou"Welter's work has made a great contribution by presenting Yanshou as a representative of the scholastic style of Tang Buddhism in the Five Dynasties and demonstrating that theZongjing luis a rich source for the study of scholastic teaching before the Song. This book provides valuable information and many insights. I hope it will inspire scholars to work on Yanshou's perspective on Chan, Huayan, Tiantai, Faxiang, and other schools in the future."--China Review International