Master Sheng Yen dedicated his life to sharing Buddhist teaching, writing, and giving Dharma lectures. He left behind a large amount of authored publications, correspondence, and manuscripts, which are a valuable source for the public to study Buddhism and a significant reference for modern Chinese Buddhist history and practice. All his manuscripts and relevant historic materials have been digitized. In the process, the manuscripts and materials were inventoried, scanned, and compiled into data files, while the original materials have been professionally kept by using museum grade preservation kits, in a temperature- and moisture- controlled environment. Badly damaged materials with historic significance have also been repaired and restored. Also, digitized scanning of the Master’s manuscripts is part of this project’s undertaking, to establish a permanent archive. Meanwhile a website has been set up as a public interface for accessing the images of Master Sheng Yen’s manuscripts. It features a detailed metadata including physical data such as height and width information, preservation status, and attributes; as well as abstract data such as category, source, and relation. In addition, users can instantly review the texts on line, to gain a further understanding of Master Sheng Yen.
With a content of over one million Chinese characters, Chronicles of Master Sheng Yen is a book that facilities the study and research of the Master’s life, practice, and teaching. In this book readers can learn about how the Master dealt with challenges, as well as the trials and tribulations in his life. It also gives us a glimpse of the development of his insight that shone through his life. Now the Chronicles have been integrated with the Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen in digital form, allowing people read the whole texts online, with functions such as full text search, as well as citation and copy. As an alternative interface, it presents a comprehensive introduction and illustration of Master Sheng Yen’s life experiences and inspiring stories.
