Abstract: This essay examines an entire class of Zen literature, the so called qinggui (J. shingi) or “rules of purity.” It demonstrates that the qinggui is actually several genres, some written to regulate one particular monastic community and others intended more broadly for all Chinese Buddhist communities. This essay traces the historical origins of this broad genre, its steady development, and its relations to early Buddhist vinaya. Its goal is to clarify the relations between these widely used texts, and show how changing social and political contexts are reflected in them.

Keywords: Chanyuan qinggui, qinggui, shingi, rules of purity, vinaya, Chinese Buddhism,