2019

Friederike Assandri

  • Independent Scholar
  • Independent Scholar
Picture of Friederike Assandri

Project

A Translation of the Early Tang Court Debates between Buddhists and Daoists from the Third and Fourth Chapter of Daoxuan's Ji gujin Fo Dao lunheng

Program

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Grants for Critical Editions and Scholarly Translations

Department

Chinese Studies

Abstract

The project proposes a scholarly English translation of reports of public debates between Buddhists and Daoists held at the court of the early Tang dynasty between 625-63 CE, in the third and fourth chapter of Daoxuan's (596-667) Ji gujin Fo Dao lunheng (T 2104). Daoxuan presented the first three chapters in 661 CE. The last chapter, with seven debates held at the court of emperor Gaozong (r. 650-683), was presented to emperor Gaozong in 664 CE. The text stands out from other apologetic compilations because it reports contemporary court debates in direct speech. These reports are by far the most detailed account of public debates between Buddhists and non-Buddhists in early medieval China we have. They offer a unique glimpse at direct interaction of Buddhists and Daoists at court.