Oxford Scholarship Online: The Zen Canon

The Zen Canon Understanding the Classic Texts Heine, Steven Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Asian Studies, Florida International University Wright, Dale S. David B. and Mary H. Gamble Professor of Religious Studies and Asian Studies, Occidental College Print publication date: 2004 (this edition) Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: February 2006 Print ISBN-13: 978-0-19-515067-4
1 Tsung-mi's Zen Prolegomenon Introduction to an Exemplary Zen Canon doi:10.1093/0195150678.003.0002 Jeff Broughton Abstract: This chapter analyzes the Chinese Chan Buddhist text, Zen Prolegomenon (Chanyuan chuchuanchi duxu) by Kuei-feng Tsung-mi (Zongmi) (780-841). This text is a descriptive and analytical guide to the teachings and practices of the numerous Chan lineages of Chinese Buddhism in the T’ang dynasty. The chapter describes the life of Tsung-mi, especially his relation to the literati figure P’ei Hsiu, and the evaluative classification of all types of Zen known in China at that time. The essay reflects on the contribution of the Tun-huang (Dunhuang) literature in the study of Zen history. Keywords: Zen Prolegomenon, Chanyuan chuchuanchi duxu, Kuei-feng Tsung-mi, Zongmi, P’ei Hsiu, Tun-huang, Dunhuang, Zen literature, T’ang literature,