During my directorship at the Centre of Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Ching has demonstrated the critical thinking skills in the research of Chinese Buddhism throughout his studies in the Master of Buddhist Studies at the HKU and later his PhD in Pure Land Buddhism at the University of Kelaniya as conducted by Buddha-Dharma Centre of Hong Kong. For instance, Ching can coherently apply the knowledge of the debates over filial piety between the Confucians and Buddhists in the pre- modern Chinese culture onto the study of a lay Buddhist woman in Hong Kong during early 20th century. Ching has also initiated the idea to write this monograph on the heated debates over the earlier constructed and later reconstructed understanding of Chinese Buddhism and Chinese Pure Land tradition (Jingtu famen).
The categorizations of Chinese Buddhism into distinct religious schools or sects, as well as the characterization of the Jingtu famen as a devotional school have been constructed under the Western and Japanese paradigms based on the studies of eminent Chinese monks’ written records prior to Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). Growing contemporary scholarship have been challenging such conceptions with sectarianism and absolute other-power belief notions imposed. Nevertheless, reconstructing an alternative understanding of the Chinese Buddhism and Jingtu famen in the Chinese sociopolitical and religious contexts is still underway with expectation of more forceful evidences.
Under an extended Chinese paradigm, Ching’s monograph of a study of Sheng’an Shixian in early Qing can contribute to the scholarship in such a reconstruction. The findings of Ching’s studies supported that the notion of zong in Chinese Buddhism with a non-sectarian form of monastic community and the notion of xin in Jingtu famen as a skilful means of Buddhist meditation in perfecting the Bodhisattva Ideal. As argued by Ching, the ultimate goal of practicing Jingtu famen is to perfect the wisdom and compassion as rooted in the teachings of Mahāyāna Buddhism that is now becoming more evidenced. While the English translation of selected writings of Shixian provides further research opportunities in the academia, Ching’s monograph can provide the students in Buddhist Studies at undergraduate level and anyone of the society with a broader and deeper understanding of Chinese Buddhism and Jingtu famen.
Professor Guang Xing
Centre of Buddhist Studies
The University of Hong Kong