Hu Shi Zen Zen Thoughts

Dr. Hu Shih examined the Chan Buddhism in the spirit of proposing and validating hypothesis through scientific methodology, attempting to understand Chan through chronological leads and under historical background. He believed that Chinese Buddhism was the localization of Indian Buddhism in China while Chan Buddhism represented the typical localized form of transformed Indian Buddhism in China, having overarching historical impact in influencing Chinese philosophy and Buddhism. Moreover, Chan Buddhism, to a varying degree, reflected the transformation of Indian Buddhism through the addition of ingredients of Taoism. Monk Shenhui played a key role in the process of localization of Buddhism in China, leaving a legacy second to no others in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Monk Shenhui, the author of Platform Sutra, established the new Chan doctrine, thus became the true founder of Chan Buddhism. In the history of Chan Buddhism, both Monk Budhid harma and Monk Shenxiu believed that Lankavatara Sutra represented the essence of Chan, thus the school belonged to the orthodox Lanka School. By contrast, Monk Huineng and Monk Shenhui broke the rule of Lanka School and replaced Lankavatara Sutra with Diamond Sutra, i.e. Prajna School overthrew Lanka School, leading to the separation of Southern and Northern schools. From the viewpoint of Dr. Hu Shih, Chan was a wisdom that enlightened and liberated the capacity to know. Therefore, to obtain Chan, it is significant not to speak explicitly.