Miracles in medieval Chinese Buddhism: an analysis of Daoxuan's Ji shenzhou sanbao lu 集神州三寶感通錄 (Collected Record of Miracles Relating to the Three Jewels in China)

Thesis

Daoxuan 道宣 (596–667CE) was an influential religious and political figure in early Tang dynasty (618–907) Buddhism. He is best known for his exegetical work in the monastic codes (Skt. Vinaya; Ch. lü 律), primarily through his seminal commentaries on Dharmaguptaka Vinaya (Ch. sifen lü 四分律 ) texts. Daoxuan did not, however, only work with the monastic codes. He was also a dedicated Buddhist apologist, a scrupulous cataloguer, and a prolific compiler of biographies as well as Buddhist miracle tales. Later in his life, Daoxuan had many experiences of the miraculous—events that would have informed many of his texts. The scholarly literature on Daoxuan has traditionally explored his influence on the monastic codes in China, often ignoring those recorded miraculous events in his life that might have influenced him. This thesis asks the question: what can we say about Daoxuan’s own experience of religious life in China, or of his own religiosity? More broadly, this thesis also asks the question: how did the medieval Chinese cultural context affect Daoxuan’s opinions and writing?

The following study endeavours to answer these questions through close analysis of Daoxuan’s compilation of miracle tales, the Ji shenzhou sanbao gantong lu 集神州三寶感通錄 (Collected Record of Miracles Relating to the Three Jewels in China; hereafter Record of Miracles) completed in 664, as well as other related sources. By studying the Record of Miracles, this thesis will delve into how Daoxuan’s interest in the supernormal influenced his work, and from there will extrapolate more far-reaching conclusions regarding the medieval Chinese Buddhist context. Special attention will be directed at Buddhist material culture, namely miraculous objects such as relics and images as well as sacred places such as monasteries and pagodas.

Authors: Landry, N

• Alternative title: Miracles in Medieval Chinese Buddhism
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-qynbvxpv1
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Daoxuan; Chinese Buddhism; Miracle tales; miracles
• Subjects: Experience (Religion); Authority in literature; Social history; Buddhism