What is Behind Yinshun’s Re-statement of the Nature of the Mūlamadhyamakakā: Debates on the Creation of a New Mahāyāna in Twentieth-century China

Travagnin, Stefania

Abstract

Yinshun (1906–2005) is regarded as one of the most eminent monks in twentieth-century Chinese Buddhism. Previous research has argued that Yinshun especially undertook the mission of writing new commentaries on Madhyamaka texts. His efforts provoked a revival of interest towards the Madhyamaka school among contemporary Chinese Buddhists, and a re-assessment of the position of the writings of Nāgārjuna within the history of Chinese Buddhism. This article focuses on Yinshun’s restatement of the nature of the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, a text that has always been regarded as fundamental in the Madhyamaka/San-lun tradition in China. The first part analyzes Yinshun’s textual study of the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, examining his approach to the text, and how he came to terms with previous Chinese traditional textual scholarship and canonical scriptures. The second part discusses Yinshun’s interpretation of the text by moving away from the micro-context of Chinese San-lun scholarship, and addressing the macro-context of the modern Chinese understanding of the Mahāyāna

Citation

Travagnin, S. (2012). What is Behind Yinshun’s Re-statement of the Nature of the Mūlamadhyamakakā: Debates on the Creation of a New Mahāyāna in Twentieth-century China. Buddhist Studies Review, 29(2), 251-272. https://doi.org/10.1558/bsrv.v29i2.251-272

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 30, 2012
• Publication Date: Dec 30, 2012
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2020
• Journal: Buddhist Studies Review
• Print ISSN: 0265-2897
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-1638
• Publisher: Equinox Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 251-272
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1558/bsrv.v29i2.251-272
• Publisher URL: https://journals.equinoxpub.com/BSR/issue/view/1321