Books by Laurent Van Cutsem
Ph.D. dissertation (Ghent University), 2023
to name but a few. Inspired by the vibrant scholarly atmosphere and invigorated by the fresh moun... more to name but a few. Inspired by the vibrant scholarly atmosphere and invigorated by the fresh mountain air, this is also where I broke free of my long-standing timorousness and Marcus convinced me to experience East Asian culture on the field and learn modern Chinese more intensively in Taiwan. Apart from this, Marcus also generously iii Several chapters of this dissertation have been published previously or accepted for publication in scholarly journals. My warmest thanks to the editors and the anonymous reviewers who offered valuable feedback which helped improve my articles. I am especially indebted to Prof. James Robson and the two reviewers at T'oung Pao who provided excellent feedback on my study of the Quanzhou Qianfo xinzhu zhuzushi song 泉州千佛新著諸祖師 頌. In addition, chapters or sections of this dissertation have been presented at multiple conferences. An earlier draft of my translation of Huiguan's 慧觀 (d.u.) preface to the Quanzhou Qianfo xinzhu zhuzushi song was presented at the "Pre-modern Chinese Buddhist Texts: a translation workshop of readings from the Sinophone world" (June 14-16, 2021) workshop organized by the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. My heartfelt thanks to Prof. Matthew Orsborn (Univ. of Oxford) for his diligent comments and to the audience who offered valuable feedback. My investigation of the textual history of the Quanzhou Qianfo xinzhu zhuzushi song and the lineage claims contained in the Dunhuang manuscript was presented at the Easter 2022 "Dunhuang & Silk Road Seminar Series" (May 19, 2022) of the University of Cambridge. I am especially grateful to Prof. Imre Galambos for his invitation and guidance in the analysis of the Dunhuang manuscript, both online and at the British Library. My examination of the early hagiographic accounts related to Nanyue Huairang 南嶽懷讓 (677-744) was first presented at the FROGBEAR/Glorisun international conference "How Zen Became Chan: Pre-modern and Modern Representations of a Transnational East Asian Buddhist Tradition" (July 29-31, 2022), in collaboration with Yale University. I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Huang Yi-hsun 黃繹勳 (Shanghai Univ.) for her thoughtful comments and kind encouragements. Finally, my study of the genealogical framework of the Zutang ji was presented at the symposium "Perspectives of Digital Humanities in the Field of Buddhist Studies" (January 13-14, 2023) of Hamburg University. Special thanks to the organizers, Prof. Carsten Krause (Hamburg Univ.) and Dr. Sebastian Nehrdich (Univ. of California, Berkeley), for their invitation and the fruitful atmosphere. In addition, I received many insightful comments from Prof. Chen Song 陳松 (Bucknell Univ.) and Christian Wittern which helped improve this study. Throughout the years, my colleagues and friends in Belgium and abroad have been a wonderful source of support, joy, and necessary distraction. At Ghent University, I thank especially Ven.
Papers by Laurent Van Cutsem
T'oung Pao, 2023
This article explores the textual history and genealogical claims in the Quanzhou Qianfo xinzhu z... more This article explores the textual history and genealogical claims in the Quanzhou Qianfo xinzhu zhuzushi song 泉州千佛新著諸祖師頌 (Or.8210/S.1635), a collection of encomia composed by Wendeng 文僜 (d. 972) that documents the formation of the so-called “southern” Chan lineage and provides a crucial link between the Baolin zhuan 寶林傳 and the Zutang ji 祖堂集. The focus of this paper is on reexamining the potentially layered nature of Wendeng’s work based on the preface by Huiguan 慧觀 (d.u.), internal evidence from the Dunhuang manuscript, and related accounts in Chan records and local gazetteers. In addition, this study investigates the genealogical glosses in S.1635 and suggests that these were probably not authored by Wendeng and therefore cannot be taken as evidence of his understanding of the pedigree of the presumed successors to Huineng 慧能 (638–713).
Religions, 2023
This paper attempts to examine the genealogical framework of “lamp records” (denglu 燈錄) of the Ch... more This paper attempts to examine the genealogical framework of “lamp records” (denglu 燈錄) of the Chan Buddhist tradition using analytical tools and methods of Historical Social Network Analysis (HSNA) and graph theory. As an exploratory study, the primary objectives are to investigate the possibilities offered by HSNA and visualization tools for research on Chan genealogy in lamp records, explore the benefits of this approach over traditional lineage charts, and reflect on its limitations. The essay focuses on the Chan community portrayed in the Goryeo 高麗 edition of the Zutang ji 祖堂集 (Collection of the Patriarchal Hall; K.1503). It shows that the lineage reportedly stemming from Qingyuan Xingsi 青原行思 (d. ca. 740) and Shitou Xiqian 石頭希遷 (701–791), as well as the branch descending from Tianhuang Daowu 天皇道悟 (748–807) to Xuefeng Yicun 雪峰義存 (822–908) and his successors, play a crucial role within the structure of the Zutang ji’s genealogical network. The study further highlights possible irregularities in lineage claims by contrasting metrics of degree and betweenness centrality with features of the text (e.g., number of hagiographic entries, length of the entries).
Religions, 2021
This paper examines Chán master Jìngxiū’s preface to the original Zǔtáng jí in one scroll, which ... more This paper examines Chán master Jìngxiū’s preface to the original Zǔtáng jí in one scroll, which was presented to him by Jìng and Yún at the Zhāoqìng monastery in Quánzhōu around the mid-tenth century. Building on a recent TEI-based edition, it offers an annotated translation and comprehensive analysis of the preface, with special attention to its structure, linguistic features, and issues of intertextuality. The essay focuses on elements of textual history, the possible incentives behind the compilation of the Zǔtáng jí, and Jìngxiū’s perception of the text. Most importantly, this study investigates in detail two idiomatic expressions used by Jìngxiū (i.e., “[cases of] shuǐhè easily arise”; “[the characters] wū and mǎ are difficult to distinguish”), showing their significance for understanding the preface. In addition, we demonstrate that further research is needed to support the hypothesis according to which the original Zǔtáng jí would correspond to the first two fascicles of the received Goryeo edition of 1245. Eventually, this article serves as the first part of a research summary on the textual history of the Zǔtáng jí aimed at facilitating further studies on this highly important Chán text.
Keywords: Zǔtáng jí; Chán master Jìngxiū; Zhāoqìng monastery; Quánzhōu; Chán; Chán Buddhist literature; lamp records; Goryeo Buddhist canon
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts by Laurent Van Cutsem
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts, 2021
TEI-based edition of the Dūnhuáng manuscript S.1635 titled Quánzhōu Qiānfó xīnzhù zhūzǔshī sòng 泉... more TEI-based edition of the Dūnhuáng manuscript S.1635 titled Quánzhōu Qiānfó xīnzhù zhūzǔshī sòng 泉州千佛新著諸祖師頌.
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts, 2020
MS Word/PDF copy of a TEI-based edition of Chán Master Jìngxiū's 淨修禪師 preface to the Zǔtáng jí 祖... more MS Word/PDF copy of a TEI-based edition of Chán Master Jìngxiū's 淨修禪師 preface to the Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 (K.1503) published on the Database of Medieval Chinese Texts.
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts, 2020
MS Word/PDF copy of a TEI-based edition of the Goryeo 高麗 preface to the Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 (K.1503) pu... more MS Word/PDF copy of a TEI-based edition of the Goryeo 高麗 preface to the Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 (K.1503) published on the Database of Medieval Chinese Texts.
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts, 2020
XLSX (Microsoft Excel) table that was originally prepared to help with the Historical Social Netw... more XLSX (Microsoft Excel) table that was originally prepared to help with the Historical Social Network Analysis TEI mark-up of selected fragments of the Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 (Collection of the Patriarchs’ Hall; K.1503) to be published on the Database of Medieval Chinese Texts (Ghent University and Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts 法鼓文理學院). This table summarises information on the contents and structure of the ZTJ (e.g., juàn 卷, zhāng 張, generations, entries). In addition, it provides the exact name and the location of the entries of the Chán patriarchs and masters as recorded in the Goryeo 高麗 edition. As a complement, it includes the location of the praise verses (zàn 贊/讚) composed by Chán master Jìngxiū 淨修禪師 (d. 972), author of the original preface of the ZTJ, as well as the references of the corresponding praise verses contained in his Quánzhōu Qiānfó xīnzhù zhū zǔshī sòng 泉州千佛新著諸祖師頌 (Eulogies for the Patriarchs, newly composed by Qiānfó [Dèng] of Quán prefecture; Or.8210/S.1635).
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts, 2020
Description of an .xlsx (Microsoft Excel) table that was originally prepared to help with the His... more Description of an .xlsx (Microsoft Excel) table that was originally prepared to help with the Historical Social Network Analysis TEI mark-up of selected fragments of the Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 (Collection of the Patriarchs’ Hall; K.1503) published on the Database of Medieval Chinese Texts (Ghent University and Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts 法鼓文理學院).
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts, 2020
Notes on the collection of variant characters of the Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 (K.1503) and the referencing s... more Notes on the collection of variant characters of the Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 (K.1503) and the referencing system used for the Database of Medieval Chinese Texts (Ghent University & DILA 法鼓文理學院). Variants are collected from an original print of the Goryeo 高麗 edition of the ZTJ which is stored at the Library of the Institute for Research in Humanities 人文科学研究所図書室 of Kyōto University 京都大學, Japan.
Book Reviews by Laurent Van Cutsem
Stuart H. Young. Conceiving the Indian Buddhist Patriarchs in China. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2015. 352 pp. $60.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8248-4120-1. Reviewed by Christoph Anderl (Ghent University) and Laurent Van Cutsem (Ghent University)
Stuart H. Young. Conceiving the Indian Buddhist Patriarchs in China. Honolulu: University of Hawa... more Stuart H. Young. Conceiving the Indian Buddhist Patriarchs in China. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2015.
352 pp. $60.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8248-4120-1.
Reviewed by Christoph Anderl (Ghent University) and Laurent Van Cutsem (Ghent University)
Published on H-Buddhism (June, 2016)
Commissioned by Gregory A. Scott
Papers: Buddhist Studies / Dunhuang manuscripts by Laurent Van Cutsem
Religions, 2021
Abstract: This paper examines Chán master Jìngxiū’s preface to the original Zǔtáng jí in one scro... more Abstract: This paper examines Chán master Jìngxiū’s preface to the original Zǔtáng jí in one scroll, which was presented to him by Jìng and Yún at the Zhāoqìng monastery in Quánzhōu around the mid-tenth century. Building on a recent TEI-based edition, it offers an annotated translation and comprehensive analysis of the preface, with special attention to its structure, linguistic features, and issues of intertextuality. The essay focuses on elements of textual history, the possible incentives behind the compilation of the Zǔtáng jí, and Jìngxiū’s perception of the text. Most importantly, this study investigates in detail two idiomatic expressions used by Jìngxiū (i.e., “[cases of] shuǐhè easily arise”; “[the characters] wū and mǎ are difficult to distinguish”), showing their significance for understanding the preface. In addition, we demonstrate that further research is needed to support the hypothesis according to which the original Zǔtáng jí would correspond to the first two fascicles of the received Goryeo edition of 1245. Eventually, this article serves as the first part of a research summary on the textual history of the Zǔtáng jí aimed at facilitating further studies on this highly important Chán text.
Keywords: Zǔtáng jí; Chán master Jìngxiū; Zhāoqìng monastery; Quánzhōu; Chán; Chán Buddhist literature; lamp records; Goryeo Buddhist canon
Digital publications and Databases by Laurent Van Cutsem
DMCT NEWSLETTER Issue #01, Apr 2022
This is the first “Newsletter” of the project “Database of Medieval Chinese Texts” (DMCT), briefl... more This is the first “Newsletter” of the project “Database of Medieval Chinese Texts” (DMCT), briefly and informally introducing aspects of the work that have been done during the last couple of years, as well as discussing recent technical innovations and our plans for the near future.
The updated version has a ISSN number: 2952-8534
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Books by Laurent Van Cutsem
Papers by Laurent Van Cutsem
Keywords: Zǔtáng jí; Chán master Jìngxiū; Zhāoqìng monastery; Quánzhōu; Chán; Chán Buddhist literature; lamp records; Goryeo Buddhist canon
Database of Medieval Chinese Texts by Laurent Van Cutsem
Book Reviews by Laurent Van Cutsem
352 pp. $60.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8248-4120-1.
Reviewed by Christoph Anderl (Ghent University) and Laurent Van Cutsem (Ghent University)
Published on H-Buddhism (June, 2016)
Commissioned by Gregory A. Scott
Papers: Buddhist Studies / Dunhuang manuscripts by Laurent Van Cutsem
Keywords: Zǔtáng jí; Chán master Jìngxiū; Zhāoqìng monastery; Quánzhōu; Chán; Chán Buddhist literature; lamp records; Goryeo Buddhist canon
Digital publications and Databases by Laurent Van Cutsem
The updated version has a ISSN number: 2952-8534
Keywords: Zǔtáng jí; Chán master Jìngxiū; Zhāoqìng monastery; Quánzhōu; Chán; Chán Buddhist literature; lamp records; Goryeo Buddhist canon
352 pp. $60.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8248-4120-1.
Reviewed by Christoph Anderl (Ghent University) and Laurent Van Cutsem (Ghent University)
Published on H-Buddhism (June, 2016)
Commissioned by Gregory A. Scott
Keywords: Zǔtáng jí; Chán master Jìngxiū; Zhāoqìng monastery; Quánzhōu; Chán; Chán Buddhist literature; lamp records; Goryeo Buddhist canon
The updated version has a ISSN number: 2952-8534