About the book
This sweeping collection of new translations paints a brilliant picture of the development of Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism, China’s most radical philosophical and meditative tradition.
In this landmark anthology of some two dozen translations, celebrated translator David Hinton shows how Ch'an (Japanese: Zen)—too long considered a perplexing school of Chinese Buddhism—was in truth a Buddhist-inflected form of Taoism, China's native system of spiritual philosophy. The texts in The Way of Ch’an build from seminal Taoism through the “Dark-Enigma Learning” literature and on to the most important pieces from all stages of the classical Ch’an tradition. Guided by Hinton’s accessible introductions, readers will encounter texts and authors including:
- I Ching (c. 12th century BCE)
- Lao Tzu (c. 6th century BCE
- Bodhidharma (active c. 500-550 CE)
- Sixth Patriarch Prajna-Able (Hui Neng, 638-713)
- Cold Mountain (Han Shan: c. 8th-9th centuries)
- Yellow-Bitterroot Mountain (Huang Po, d. 850)
- Blue-Cliff Record (c. 1040)
Through this steadily deepening and transformative reading experience, readers will see the profound and intricate connections between native Chinese philosophy, Taoism, and Ch’an. Contemporary Zen students and practitioners will never see their tradition in the same way again.
Editions of The Way of Ch'an
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781611809237
- EBook
- ISBN 9780834845145
Read an Excerpt
This sweeping collection of new translations paints a brilliant picture of the development of Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism, China’s most radical philosophical and meditative tradition.
In this landmark anthology of some two dozen translations, celebrated translator David Hinton shows how Ch'an (Japanese: Zen)—too long considered a perplexing school of Chinese Buddhism—was in truth a Buddhist-inflected form of Taoism, China's native system of spiritual philosophy. The texts in The Way of Ch’an build from seminal Taoism through the “Dark-Enigma Learning” literature and on to the most important pieces from all stages of the classical Ch’an tradition. Guided by Hinton’s accessible introductions, readers will encounter texts and authors including:
- I Ching (c. 12th century BCE)
- Lao Tzu (c. 6th century BCE
- Bodhidharma (active c. 500-550 CE)
- Sixth Patriarch Prajna-Able (Hui Neng, 638-713)
- Cold Mountain (Han Shan: c. 8th-9th centuries)
- Yellow-Bitterroot Mountain (Huang Po, d. 850)
- Blue-Cliff Record (c. 1040)
Through this steadily deepening and transformative reading experience, readers will see the profound and intricate connections between native Chinese philosophy, Taoism, and Ch’an. Contemporary Zen students and practitioners will never see their tradition in the same way again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Way of Ch'an about?
This sweeping collection of new translations paints a brilliant picture of the development of Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism, China’s most radical philosophical and meditative tradition.
In this landmark anthology of some two dozen translations, celebrated translator David Hinton shows how Ch'an (Japanese: Zen)—too long considered a perplexing school of Chinese Buddhism—was in truth a Buddhist-inflected form of Taoism, China's native system of spiritual philosophy. The texts in The Way of Ch’an build from seminal Taoism through the “Dark-Enigma Learning” literature and on to the most important pieces from all stages of the classical Ch’an tradition. Guided by Hinton’s accessible introductions, readers will encounter texts and authors including:
- I Ching (c. 12th century BCE)
- Lao Tzu (c. 6th century BCE
- Bodhidharma (active c. 500-550 CE)
- Sixth Patriarch Prajna-Able (Hui Neng, 638-713)
- Cold Mountain (Han Shan: c. 8th-9th centuries)
- Yellow-Bitterroot Mountain (Huang Po, d. 850)
- Blue-Cliff Record (c. 1040)
Through this steadily deepening and transformative reading experience, readers will see the profound and intricate connections between native Chinese philosophy, Taoism, and Ch’an. Contemporary Zen students and practitioners will never see their tradition in the same way again.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Way of Ch'an?
Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Buddhism > Buddhism: branches and groups > Mahayana Buddhism > Zen Buddhism
Where can I read a sample of The Way of Ch'an?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781611809237
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Way of Ch'an?
David Hinton
Who is the Publisher of the book The Way of Ch'an?
Shambhala
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Way of Ch'an is available as paperback(ISBN 9781611809237) and ebook(ISBN 9780834845145)
Where can I buy The Way of Ch'an online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy The Way of Ch'an?