About the Chinese Edition

Origins

Excerpt from Venerable Master Hsing Yun's "My Affinities with Compiling the Buddhist Canon" from Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years - Culture and Education

In early 1970, Lan Chi-Fu 藍吉富, a lecturer at Tunghai University, encouraged me to compile and print a comprehensive Buddhist dictionary. Though I lacked the resources at the time, I later discussed the idea with Hsiao Pi-Hsiao Shigu 蕭碧霞, who offered her house on Wuhsing Street in Taipei as an editorial office. I appointed Lan Chi-Fu and Venerable Tzu Yi 慈怡 to lead the project, naming it the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism 佛光大辭典. 

Tzu Yi later relocated the editorial office to Fushan Temple in Changhua and proposed we compile our own Buddhist canon. Despite my limited abilities, I was inspired by historical figures like Master Xuanzang, who journeyed west for sutras, and Master Kumārajīva, who dedicated his life to translation. I was particularly moved by the bhikṣuṇī Fazhen 法珍 of the Yuan Dynasty, who cut off her arm to raise funds for printing the canon. Her sacrifice inspired devotees to support the cause, resulting in the Zhaocheng Jin Canon 趙城金藏 after thirty years. Believing in the power of determination, I thought, "Why can't we do it?" 

In 1977, inspired by eminent masters of history, I established the "Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Canon Committee" at Fushan Temple in Changhua. As there were few male monastics at Fo Guang Shan at the time, I appointed Venerable Tzu Yi to lead the project, with bhikṣuṇīs Tzu Chuang, Tzu Hui, Tzu Jung, Tzu Yi, Tzu Chia, Yi Kung, Yi Chun, Ta Ho, and others serving as members of the editorial board.

At that time, Taiwan had many outstanding bhikṣuṇīs whose abilities and knowledge were on par with their male counterparts. Some taught at universities, while others propagated the Dharma in society, achieving remarkable success. To elevate the status of bhikṣuṇīs in the Buddhist community and establish a new image for them, I believed these talented women should be given the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. Thus, bhikṣuṇīs took the lead in Fo Guang Shan's canon compilation work. I also called upon the Buddhist community, urging bhikṣuṇīs to learn from bhikṣus and bhikṣus to aspire to the standards set by bhikṣuṇīs.

Under my guidance, Venerable Tzu Yi recruited over ten college students, and students from Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University, led by their teachers, also joined the editorial work. Many volunteers actively participated in training sessions and proofreading the Fo Guang Buddhist Canon. We invited monastic and lay scholars from Taiwan and abroad to collect various editions of the Buddhist canon from different dynasties. The texts were reorganized, collated, proofread, paragraphed, and punctuated. Explanations of sutra titles, indexes, and special entries from various schools were added.

My goal was to compile a Fo Guang Buddhist Canon that everyone could read, understand, develop faith in, and ultimately put into practice. We periodically sought advice from experts and scholars to improve the editing and proofreading skills of students and volunteers. I placed particular emphasis on punctuation and paragraphing, as these could help readers grasp the meaning of difficult passages in Buddhist texts.

I divided the Fo Guang Buddhist Canon into sixteen major categories: Āgama, Prajñāpāramitā, Chan, Pure Land, Lotus Sutra, Avataṃsaka, Yogācāra, Esoteric, Śrāvaka, Vinaya, Jātaka and Avadāna, History and Biography, Iconography, Ritual and Devotion, Arts and Literature, and Miscellaneous. Among these, the Iconography and Arts and Literature sections were not included in previous canon editions. I felt strongly that Buddhist scriptures inherently possess literary and artistic value. As Buddhism spread eastward, it enriched Chinese literature, drama, architecture, sculpture, and painting, leaving behind a vast and splendid cultural heritage. Therefore, I hoped that the Fo Guang Buddhist Canon could break from tradition by incorporating Buddhist literature and art, serving as an expedient means for the propagation of Buddhism.

Concurrent with the canon's compilation, work progressed on the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism (FGDB), which I supervised and Venerable Tzu Yi edited-in-chief. This comprehensive dictionary, costing over ten million NT dollars, involved more than 30 scholars in Buddhism, literature, history, and philosophy, as well as experts in Sanskrit, Pali, Korean, and Japanese. Compiled over ten years, it contains 22,608 entries totaling seven million characters. The dictionary is available in two formats: a set of eight 7x5 inch (17.8x23.2 cm) volumes or a set of four 8.75x6.25 inch (21.5x27.5 cm) volumes (including the index). Both editions are designed for easy reading and research. The content and systematic arrangement have been praised as a "Buddhist encyclopedia" for modern readers. After its publication, the FGDB was awarded the Golden Tripod Award by the Government Information Office of the Executive Yuan in 1989.

The FGDB is distinguished by several key features:

These characteristics have led to the FGDB being widely recognized by Buddhist scholars worldwide as one of the most thorough and precise dictionaries in the field. Its value extends beyond academic circles, as it has become an indispensable tool for Buddhist practitioners in general. The dictionary's accessibility and comprehensiveness make it particularly useful for reading and studying Buddhist texts.

The FGDB's modern approach and extensive coverage have made it a valuable resource for both scholarly research and general Buddhist study. Its user-friendly design and inclusion of contemporary Buddhist terms make it especially relevant for today's readers, bridging the gap between classical Buddhist literature and modern understanding.

Preface to the First Chinese Edition of the FGDB

(Translated from the original Chinese).

Since the founding of Fo Guang Shan, I have established four main objectives: to cultivate talent through education; to propagate the Dharma through culture; to benefit society through charity; and to purify human hearts through cultivation. In education, Fo Guang Shan has established six academic institutions, including the Chinese Buddhist Research Institute, as well as the newly founded Fo Guang Shan Distance Learning School and the Fo Guang Shan Cultural and Educational Foundation.

In the cultural sphere, Fo Guang Publications prints various book series and periodicals such as the Fo Guang Academic Journal, Universal Gate Magazine, and the Awakening the World Journal, with monthly circulations reaching tens of thousands. Notably, the Fo Guang Buddhist Canon Editing Committee, comprising bhikshunis such as Tzu Chuang, Tzu Hui, Tzu Jung, Tzu Yi, Tzu Chia, Yi Yen, Yi Kung, Yi Chun, and Ta Ho, has reorganized, segmented, punctuated, proofread, and annotated the historic Buddhist canon into sixteen categories. 

Initially led by Tzu Yi as chief editor, a team of over twenty people worked for more than a decade to complete the sixteen-volume Agama Collection. Recognizing that life is short and time precious, Master Hsing Yun has now entrusted the remaining fifteen categories to over two hundred graduates of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist College, working in groups to accelerate the process.

From 1978 to 1988, the editing committee simultaneously undertook another challenging project: the compilation of the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism. As a Buddhist text states, "Only faith can enter the great ocean of Dharma, and only wisdom can cross it." With Buddhism's 2,500-year history spanning five continents and producing countless scriptures and doctrines, many eager scholars found it difficult to approach the vast and profound teachings.

The completion of this user-friendly and easily comprehensible Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism provides those interested in studying Buddhism with a silent teacher and a treasury of wisdom. This joyous accomplishment in spreading the Dharma is truly cause for celebration. 

In this era of rapid technological advancement, we can no longer adhere to outdated methods in propagating the Dharma. Thus, the disciples of Fo Guang Shan have dedicated over a decade, invested millions in resources, and gathered dozens of experts to compile this dictionary. The result is a comprehensive work containing 22,608 entries and over 7 million words. The explanations are designed to be accessible, supplemented with relevant images to complement the text.

This dictionary encompasses all aspects of Buddhism, including terminology, names of people and places, monasteries and temples, schools and doctrines, classical texts and phrases, ritual objects and practices, art and architecture, and historical gong'ans. Each entry is meticulously researched and presented in detail.

For ease of reference, the dictionary includes both a Chinese main index and a Romanized Pinyin index. The Chinese index is preceded by four quick-reference guides for added convenience. Within the text, all concepts and objects are cited with their scriptural sources, and both historical and contemporary figures are included. The breadth of references spans hundreds of sutras and treatises, incorporating interpretations from various schools of thought. In essence, this dictionary serves as a modern Buddhist encyclopedia.

The editorial team, led by Venerable Tzu Yi, consists of over 20 members, mostly from the Institute of Chinese Buddhist Studies. They were supported by more than 30 scholars and practitioners from various universities specializing in Buddhist philosophy, literature, and history, including lay followers like Li Sufang. Experts such as Cheng Zhaoxiong, Go Benjie, Yang Yuwen, and Xu Jingwen also contributed to the review and proofreading process.

The team members not only possessed a profound understanding of the Tripitaka but were also proficient in Sanskrit, Pali, English, and Japanese. They worked tirelessly, immersing themselves in both ancient and modern texts from around the world. While they may not be without equals, they certainly stand shoulder to shoulder with the great scholars of the past.

As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan's founding, I urge the publication of this dictionary as an offering to the Triple Gem and a resource for all. We humbly welcome feedback and suggestions from esteemed members of the Buddhist community to further improve this work.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple, USA
July 24, 1988

Preface to the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism - Revised Edition

(Translated from the original Chinese).

Since its initial publication in October 1988, the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism has received widespread acclaim and support from religious, academic, and public communities for over two decades. The following year, it was honored with the Golden Tripod Award, marking it as the first Buddhist dictionary written in vernacular language in Buddhist history.

The dictionary has been warmly received across various sectors, necessitating numerous reprints, for which we are deeply grateful. As society evolves and Humanistic Buddhism continues to flourish, we have undertaken a comprehensive revision of the original content. This update includes new terminology related to recent developments in Buddhist circles, encompassing classical texts, historical cases, verses, temples and pagodas, notable figures, events, sects and organizations, art, and artifacts.

The revised edition features over 7,000 new entries, an additional 2 million words, and more than 150 new illustrations. Now published as a complete set of ten volumes, including a comprehensive index, it contains over 30,000 entries in total, nearly 3,000 illustrations, and approaches 10 million words. This expanded work is titled the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism - Revised Edition.

Our goal with this revision is to create a resource that is more comprehensive in scope, clearer in explanation, and more versatile in its search functions. We aim to enhance its practical, universal, and academic qualities to better serve modern Buddhist practitioners and scholars of Buddhist doctrine.

The compilation process was led by Venerable Tzu Hui, with crucial support from Yung Ben, Chueh Ran, Dao Pu of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Electronic Texts project, along with numerous volunteers and devotees. Their selfless dedication and contributions are deeply appreciated.

This publication coincides with the 50th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan's founding, my 90th year, and my 60th year of propagating the Dharma. My disciples have entrusted the Fo Guang Shan Board of Directors with the task of revising and publishing this new edition. As we approach publication, I offer these words as a preface.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun
July 2014