Zen's Chinese Heritage : The Masters and Their Tea

by andrew-e-ferguson-foreword-by-reb-anderson

The history of Zen can be almost as perplexing as its cryptic koan. In many accounts of Zen history, it is hard to tell who is Chinese and who is Japanese, who lived in the 6th century and who in the 16th. Andy Ferguson attempts to clear the air once and for all. In Zen's Chinese Heritage, he organizes all of the Chinese Zen masters from Bodhidharma at the turn of the 5th century to Huikai in the 13th century, presenting their core records and writings in chronological order by generation--25 generations in all. Drawing from Wudeng Huiyan (Compendium of Five Lamps) and other records, Ferguson translates the classic Zen teachings (including dialogues, anecdotes, and koan) in spare, straightforward language. He also presents an expertly arranged foldout lineage chart of the Zen ancestors, with cross-referencing by Japanese, Chinese pinyin, and Chinese Wade-Giles transcriptions. Ferguson's work is not only a priceless treasury of Zen literature but also a road map to the history of Zen. --Brian Bruya

Genres: Buddhism, Zen, China, Religion, History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published April 15, 2000

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent source book for the great Ch'an masters. Many great stories of their dialogs with students.

[Jughead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cherish this book, but whenever I read anything else by AF I am always disappointed.