In these
establishments about nine hundred different works are being published.
The most noteworthy recent publication has been that of the Chinese
Buddhist Tripitaka in Shanghai.
Among these publications are a few modern issues. The Chung Hua Book
Company has published several works on Buddhism. Other books have been
issued for the sake of harmonizing Buddhism with western science and
philosophy. In this enterprise Japanese influence is visible. In 1921 a
Shanghai press published a dictionary of Buddhist terms containing 3302
pages, based on the Japanese Dictionary of Buddhism. Other works also
show the influence of Japanese scholarship.
Among the publications have appeared two magazines. One published at
Ningpo, is called "New Buddhism." This is struggling and may have to
succumb. The other is known as the "Sound of the Sea Tide," now
published in Hankow. Moreover, in all the large cities there are
Buddhist bookshops where only Buddhist works are sold. These all report
a good business. This literary activity reveals an interest among the
reading classes of China. Few such books are purchased by the monks. The
Chinese scholars read them for their style and for their deep
philosophy, but also for light and for help in the present distracting
political situation of their country.
_(d) Lectures._--Along with publication goes the spread of Buddhism
by lectures in the monasteries and the cities of China. A few years ago
Buddhist sermons, however serious, were only listened to by monks and by
a few pious devotees.
Pages:
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98