Huineng's Reform and the Sinicization of Buddhism

Abstract: Zen stands as a mature manifestation of Chinese Buddhism. Huineng, the sixth patriarch of Zen, is the actual founder of Zen. He embarked on a series of reforms in traditional Buddhism, focusing on both theoretical ideas and spiritual practices. These reforms significantly advanced the innovative development of Buddhism. Huineng's ideological innovation is rooted in Chinese philosophy, with two traditional forms of naturalism serving as crucial foundations for his thought. The two forms of naturalism originated from Confucianism and Taoism, respectively. Huineng's naturalistic thoughts were inherited by Zen of later generations.

Lecturer’s Background:
CAO Xiaohu 曹晓虎 is Associate Professor at NNU since 2009. He received his Ph.D. in Chinese philosophy from Nanjing University in 2004 unter supervision by LAI Yonghai. His dissertation has the title “Study of the Ethics of the Pure Land Buddhism”. Besides research on Chinese Buddhism, esp. Pure Land and Zen, he published on Daosim, esp. Zhuangzi, and ancient Chinese Philosophy and comparison studies of religions. All his publications are in Chinese language.

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