LECTURE - Dr. Jiang Wu: Pei Xiu & the Fellowship of Dao-learners in Medieval Chan History

Mārga as the Way:

Pei Xiu 裴休 (791-864) and the Fellowship of Dao-learners (Xuedaoren 學道人) in Medieval Chan History

Mārga, meaning the path towards enlightenment and liberation, is a soteriological concept ubiquitous in Buddhist literature. In Chinese Buddhism, it has been often translated as “the Way” or Dao and the group of spiritual seekers who embarked on the path has often been referred to as “Dao-learners” (Xuedaoren 學道人). For a long time, there is a lack of sophisticated and systematic studies of these Dao-learners who had extensive engagement with Buddhism. In this talk, Dr. Jiang Wu will examine the culture of Dao-learners in the mid- and late Tang society by focusing on Pei Xiu 裴休 (791-864), a literati follower of Buddhist teachers, the two most eminent among whom were Chan figures Zongmi 宗密 (780-841) and Huangbo Xiyun 黃檗希運 (?-850). Dr. Wu will further argue that the encounter between the Buddhist Mārga…