Value of epitaphic literature on Tang dynasty Chan history: case studies of Chan practices by aristocratic women

ABSTRACT Over the past three decades, the use of newly published medieval Chinese epitaphs has informed our knowledge of society, culture and religion during the Tang Dynasty. There are only seven sporadic records of noble women’s Chan Practice in the Quan Tangwen 全唐文 [Compendium of Tang Prose Writings]. However, newly published epitaphs have greatly increased the number of these kinds of records available for scholars to study. In this article, the author compiles 90 records of noble women’s Chan practice from Quan Tangwen and newly (up to 2022) published epitaphic collections, studies noble women’s family backgrounds, life experiences, Chan practice and funeral arrangements, and discusses some important issues of Chan history in the Tang Dynasty, including the relationship between Chan Buddhism and women, historical facts of Shenxiu 神秀 (606[?]–706) and other chief Chan masters, and the influence of some Chan patriarchs. In addition, this article proposes the concept of Luoyang Chan 洛陽禪. The comprehensive research presented in this article will supplement, revise and enrich the scholarly understanding of Early Chan Buddhism and the history of Chan Buddhism in the eighth century.