In 2016, the Center for Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University started a research project entitled “Texts and Studies on East Asian Buddhism from the 16th to 19th Centuries.” Through this project, the Center has found 250 rare Buddhist texts not included in the Jiaxing 嘉興 or other canons. Among the Center’s collection of rare Buddhist Books from the Ming and Qing, there are six rare books by Ming Chan Master Hanyue 漢月 (1573–1635) originally held at the Shanghai Library and Xiyuan si 西園寺 in Suzhou. They are: 1. Yumishen ti jiyin zunzhe zhezhengzhuan 於密滲提寂音尊者智證傳 (Hanyue’s Guiding Words on the Zhizheng Zhuang); 2. Yumishen chanbing ji 於密滲禪病偈 (Hanyue’s verses on meditation sickness); 3. Yumishen canchanji 於密滲參禪偈 (Hanyue’s verses on Chan practice); 4. Haiyu sanfeng yumi zangheshang pushuo 海虞三峰於密藏和尚普說 (Hanyue’s talks at Sanfeng si); 5. He yinzhenzi quanxiuji 和隱真子勸修偈 (Hanyue’s verses on advocating practice); 6. Yumishen songyuan sanzunsu zuogongfu yinyuan xiezheng zhu 於密滲宋元三尊宿做工夫因緣邪正註 (Hanyue’s commentary on three elders’ practices). These rare books are all important sources for future studies of Hanyue’s thought and practice with regard to Chan, Pure Land and discipline. It is the Center’s goal to continue research on recently discovered rare books from the Ming and Qing dynasties in order to complete the puzzle of the history of Chinese Buddhism.
