Yinshun's life and Buddhist thought according to his autobiographical account, and the core principle of human-centered Buddhism

Voo, Siau Sie

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Description

Title

Yinshun's life and Buddhist thought according to his autobiographical account, and the core principle of human-centered Buddhism

Author(s)

Voo, Siau Sie

Issue Date

2025-12-09

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Mayer, Alexander

Department of Study

Religion

Discipline

Religion

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Yinshun
• Human-centered Buddhism
• Renjian Fojiao

Abstract

This thesis examines the life and thought of Venerable Yinshun (印順法師, 1906–2005), one of the most influential figures in modern Chinese Buddhism, focusing on the formation and development of his thought and the core principle of his Human-Centered Buddhism (人間佛教Renjian Fojiao, RJFJ). Despite Yinshun's pivotal role in shaping twentieth-century Chinese and Taiwanese Buddhism, scholarly gaps remain regarding the relationship between his life experiences, historical circumstances, and his intellectual development. First, this study investigates the intrinsic and extrinsic influences that shaped Yinshun's life and intellectual trajectory. Intrinsic influences include his temperament, formative experiences, and key life decisions, while extrinsic influences encompass the political, social, and religious contexts of twentieth-century China and Taiwan. Drawing on sources such as Yinshun's autobiography and his reflective essay, as well as Hou Kunhong’s Chronology of Yinshun (印順導師年譜) and Lu Zikang's memoir, the research reconstructs the personal and historical conditions that informed Yinshun's life-long pursuit of the Dharma and his vision of Buddhism. This study also examines his interpretive frameworks, engagement with Indian, Chinese, and Mahāyāna traditions, as well as with Japanese Buddhist scholarship. Second, through close readings of Yinshun's major writings such as the Buddha in the Human Realm (佛在人間) and archival materials from The Sound of the Tide (海潮音, Haichaoyin), it traces how Yinshun's RJFJ emerged as both a continuation and a reformulation of Buddhist thought, responding to the needs of the modern era. The findings demonstrate that Yinshun's thought represents a refined synthesis, what he called "scraping away the grime and polishing until it shines." His legacy connects ancient wisdom and contemporary inquiry, offering an enduring platform for Buddhist study and reform.

Graduation Semester

2025-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132514

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Siau Sie Voo

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