Yuan · by 念常集
357,057 · about 1190 min
The Comprehensive Chronicle of Buddhas and Patriarchs Through the Ages, compiled by the Yuan dynasty monk Nianchang, is a significant historical and biographical text in Chinese Buddhism. Completed in the fourteenth century, this work adopts an annalistic format to record Buddhist history from the birth of the Buddha to the mid-Yuan period, encompassing the transmission of Buddhism in India and China, the deeds of eminent monks, and the development of doctrines. Its content is systematic and comprehensive, integrating Chan perspectives with traditional historical sources, and holds high value for the study of the evolution of Chinese Buddhism and cultural exchanges between China and other regions. Regarded as one of the core texts for researching Chinese Buddhist history, it occupies a prominent position among Buddhist historical writings, providing later generations with an authoritative historical framework and doctrinal foundation.