This paper adapts the "man"-oriented historical discourses of Marc Bloch (France, 1886-1944), Edward H. Carr (Britain, 1892-1982), and Mu Qian (China, 1895-1990) to a theoretical framework useful in examining the life of Shi Taixu (China, 1890-1947), his concept of "humanistic Buddhism/human-realm Buddhism" (renjian fojiao), and its origins. Furthermore, I discuss the interrelationships of the individual and his/her thoughts, history, and religion. At the same time, I discuss different viewpoints in historical studies of Taiwanese Buddhism rooted in the tradition of humanistic Buddhism, and conclude with an effort to engage new approaches to Buddhist academic research.
