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An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History and Literature
The whole corpus of Chinese Buddhist writings is compound in the so-called Tripitaka "Threefold basket" (Sanzang 三藏). The modern edition of that corpus was made in Japan under the Taishô Emperor from 1922-1933, therfore called Taisho Daizokyo 大正大藏經 "Great Sutra Storehouse of the Taisho era" (chin.: Dazheng Dazangjing). It is divided into 86 volumes, distributed into the sermons of the Buddha (Sutras; jing 經); the Vinaya writings (rules of discipline; lü 律); the Abhidharma writings ("Higher Subtleties"; chin.: lun 論 or apitan 阿毘曇); Madhyamika ("Middle path", i.e. Great Vehicle; chin.: zhongdao 中道) and Vijnanavada (Idealistic School; chin.: Weishizong 唯識宗) writings; shastra (treatises; chin.: lun 論); commentaries by Chinese monks; literature of the various Chinese schools; historical records; encyclopedias; catalogues.
| 1.-2. Agama Sutras (Ahan 阿含 1-151) |
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| 3.-4. Past Conditions Sutras (Benyuan 本緣 152-219) |
| Puyao jing 普曜經 (sankr.: Lalitavistara) T0186 |
| Buddhacarita (chin.: Fo Suo Xing Zan 佛所行讚; by Ashvaghosha 馬鳴, translated by Dharmakshema 曇無讖; T0192) |
| Parable Sutra (chin. Piyu Jing 譬喻經; T0217) |
| 5.-8. Prajna Sutras (Banruo 般若 220-261) |
| Great Sutra of Perfection of Wisdom (Da Banruo Boluomi Jing 大般若波羅蜜經, short Da Banruo Jing 大般若經; sanskr.: Maha-Prajna-Paramita-Sutra; translated by Xuanzang 玄奘; T0220) |
| Guangzan Jing 光讚經 (sanskr.: Pancavimshatisahasrika-sutra; translated by Dharmaraksha 竺法護; T0222) |
| Damingdu Jing 大明度經 (T0225) |
| Diamond Cutter Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom (chin.: Jingang Banruo Boluomi Jing 金剛般若波羅蜜經, short Jingang Jing 金剛經 "Diamond Sutra"; sanskr.: Prajnaparamita-Vajracchedika-Sutra; translated by Kumarajiva 鳩摩羅什; T0235) |
| Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom (chin.: Banruo Bolomiduo Xin Jing 般若波羅蜜多心經, short Xin Jing 心經 "Heart Sutra"; sanskr.: Prajnaparamita-Hrivaya-Sutra; T0251) |
| 9. Dharma Blossoms Sutras (Fahua 法華 262-277) |
| Lotus Sutra (chin.: Miaofa Lianhua Jing 妙法蓮華經, short Fahua Jing 法華經; sanskr.: Saddharmapundarika-Sutra; translated by Kumarajiva 鳩摩羅什; T0262) |
| Zheng Fa Hua Jing 正法華經 T0263 |
| Wuliangyi Jing 無量義經; translated by 曇摩伽陀耶舎; T0276) |
| How the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra Exerts the Law, Explained by the Buddha (chin. Fo Shuo Guan Puxian Pusa Xingfa Jing 佛説觀普賢菩薩行法經, short Puxian Guan Jing 普賢觀經; translated by Dharmamitra 曇無蜜多; T0277) |
| 9.-10. Flower Garland Sutras (Huayan 華嚴 278-309) |
| Garland Sutra of the Great Universal Buddha (chin.: Dafangguang Fo Huayan Jing 大方廣佛華嚴經; sanskr. Maha-Vaipulya-Avatamsaka-Sutra; translated by Buddhabhadra 佛駄跋陀; T0278) |
| 11.-12. Treasure Trove Sutras (Baoji 寶積 310-373) |
| Sutra of the Infinite Lifespan, explained by the Buddha (chin: Fo Shuo Wuliangshou Jing 佛說無量壽經, short: "Larger Amitabha Sutra"; translated by Samghavarman 康僧鎧; T0360) |
| Sutra on the Contemplation of the Buddha of Infinite Lifespan, explained by the Buddha (chin. Fo Shuo Guan Wuliangshou Fo Jing 佛說觀無量壽佛經, short "Contemplation Sutra"; translated by Kalayashas 畺良耶舎; T0365) |
| Amitabha Sutra, explained by the Buddha (chin. Fo Shuo Amituo Jing 佛說阿彌陀經; sanskr: ; translated by Kumarajiva 鳩摩羅什; 366) |
| 12. Nirvana Sutras (Niepan 涅槃 374-396) |
| Great Parinirvana Sutra (chin. Da Banniepan Jing 大般涅槃經, short: Niepan Jing 涅槃經 "Nirvana Sutra"; sanskr. Maha-Parinirvana-Sutra; translated by Jnanabhadra 慧嚴 and others; T0375) |
| 13. Great Collection Sutras (Daji 大集 397-424) |
| 14.-17. Miscellaneous Sutras (Jingji 經集 425-847) |
| Vimalakirti-Nirdesha-Sutra (chin. Weimojie Suo Shuo Jing 維摩詰所說經, short Weimo Jing 維摩經; translated by Kumarajiva 鳩摩羅什; T0475) |
| Lankavatara-Sutra (chin.: Lengqie Abaduoluo baojing 楞伽阿跋多羅寶經, short: Ru Lengqie Jing 入楞伽經; translated by Bodhiruci 菩提流支; T0671) |
| 18.-21. Secret Schools (Mijiao 密教 848-1420) |
| 22.-24. Vinayas (Lü 律 1421-1504) |
| 25. Indian Sutras and Shastras (Shijinglun 釋經論 1505-1535) |
| Da Zhidu lun 大智度論 (sanskr. Maha-Prajnaparamita-Shastra), a commentary to the Prajnaparamita-Sutra by Nagarjuna 龍樹, translated by Kumarajiva 鳩摩羅什; T1509 |
| 26.-29. Abidharma Texts (Pitan 毘曇 1536-1563) |
| 30. Madhyamika Texts (Zhongguan 中觀 1564-1578) |
| Sanlun 三論 "Three treatises": Zhong Lun 中論 (sankr. Madhyamaka-Shastra; T1564), Shiermen Lun 十二門論 (sanskr.: Dvadashanikaya-Shastra; 1568), and Bai Lun 百論 (sanskr. Shata-Shastra; T1569); all translated by Kumarajiva 鳩摩羅什 |
| 30.-31. Yogacarin Texts (Yuqie 瑜伽 1579-1627) |
| Yuqie Lun "Discourse on the Stages of Concentration Practice" (chin. Yuqie Shidi Lun 瑜伽師地論, short Yuqie Lun 瑜伽論; sanskr. Yogacara-Bhumi-Shastra; translated by Xuanzang 玄奘; T1579) |
| 32. Miscellaneous Shastras (Lunji 論集 1628-1692) |
| Satyasiddhi-Shastra (chin. Chengshi Lun 成實論; by Harivarman 訶梨跋摩, translated by Kumarajiva 鳩摩羅什; T1646) |
| 33.-44. Commentaries to Sutras, Vinayas and Shastras (Jingshu 經疏 1693-1803, Lüshu 律疏 1804-1815, Lunshu 論疏 1816-1850) |
| 44.-48. Writings of Different Schools (Zhuzong 諸宗 1851-2025) |
| Zhao Lun "Zhao's Discourses" 肇論, a discussion of problems of Buddhist philosophy in China, by Sengzhao 僧肇 T1858 |
| Pure Land Treatise (Jingtu Lun 淨土論) by Jiecai 迦才 T1963 |
| Green Cliff Records (Foguo Huanwu Chanshi Biyan Lu 佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄, short Biyan Lu 碧巖錄, a collection of Chan riddles by Xuedu Zhongxian 雪竇重顯 and Huanwu T2003 |
| 48.-52. Historical Writings (Shizhuan 史傳 2026-2120) |
| Gaoseng Zhuan 高僧傳 by Huijiao 慧皎, "Biographies of Eminent Monks" T2059 |
| Hongmingji 弘明集, an apologetic text of Buddhism by Sengyou 僧祐 T2102 |
| 53.-54. (Shihui 事彙 2121-2136) |
| 54. Outer Teachings (Waijiao 外教 2137-2144) |
| 55. Catalogues (Mulu 目錄 2145-2184) |
| 85. Fragments (Guyi 古逸 2732-2864) |
| 85. Apocryphal Text (Yisi 疑似 2865-2920) |
Other writings that are not encluded in the Tripitaka comprise a vast diversity of biographical, philosophical, encyclopedical and even poetry writings, some freely translated from the Sanskrit original, but there exist also many Buddhist writings by Chinese Buddhists:
| Mouzi lihuo lun 牟子理惑論, an essay about controversies between Buddhism and Chinese tradition (3rd cent.) |
| Foguo Ji 佛國記 "Record of Buddhist kingdoms", a report of the traveler Faxian (around 400) |
| Fayuan Zhulin 法苑珠林, an encyclopedia by Daoshi 道世 |
| Yaoshi Jing 藥師經 "Sutra of the Master of Medicine" |
| Dabei Chan 大悲懺 "Great Compassion Penance" |