Chinese Buddhism

Chinese Buddhism is a book by Joseph Edkins, first published in 1880. This comprehensive work explores the development, doctrines, and cultural integration of Buddhism in China from its early introduction to its mature influence on Chinese society and thought. Edkins, a British missionary and sinologist who spent decades in China, combines scholarly observation with linguistic and historical insights, offering an in-depth examination of how Indian Buddhist ideas were adapted to Chinese philosophies such as Confucianism and Daoism. His work captures the rich interplay between religion, language, and culture, shedding light on rituals, sects, scriptures, and the transformation of Buddhist practices within a distinctly Chinese context. This book remains an important early Western attempt to understand Chinese religious life through the lens of Buddhism’s long-standing presence.