Chan Buddhism in Song-dynasty China (960-1279): The rise of the Caodong tradition and the formation of the Chan school

This study examines the revival and renewal which the Caodong tradition of Chan Buddhism underwent in twelfth-century China. Under the leadership of politically astute and religiously inspired monks, the Caodong tradition became one of the most powerful groups of Song dynasty elite Buddhism. This event had a great impact on the subsequent development of Chan/Zen Buddhism in both China and Japan.; The study is divided into three sections. First, the contents and dynamics of the revival of the Caodong tradition are examined. In an age when support from the educated elite was a prerequisite for survival, the new Caodong tradition created a lineage and a set of hagiographies which served to give its past needed legitimacy and prestige. Several generations of successful Caodong masters consolidated the lineage (Section I).; Beginning with Furong Daokai (1043--1118) and culminating with Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091--1157) an approach to meditation and practice that appealed to members of the elite developed within the new Caodong tradition. This allowed it to create a distinct identity which differentiated it from the other Chan traditions. The strategy was very successful, but elicited a fierce response from the powerful Linji tradition, especially from the famous and influential Dahui Zonggao. Dabui attacked the Caodong tradition's teachings of meditation and enlightenment, which he called "Silent Illumination," and which he claimed were quietist and passive. Dahui advocated instead the intense reflection on the punch line of a koan story in the pursuit of a break-through enlightenment, an approach which came to be known as "Koan Introspection Chan." However, the controversy can only be fully understood when placed in the context of competition for lay support (Section II).; The study finally examines the Song government's policies towards monastic Buddhism and their crucial role in the formation and institutionalization of the Chan school. Social changes also are shown to have had a profound influence on the development of Chan. By taking political and social changes into account we can increase our understanding of the forces behind the rise of the Caodong tradition and the competition between the Caodong and Linji traditions (Section III).