Reflections on Writing Knowledge History of Buddhism in Modern China: A Perspective from Buddhist Philology and Historiography
近現代中國佛教知識史書寫的反思：從經史學的視域看

Prof. Dr. 龔雋 GONG Jun (Sun Yat-sen University)
Time: December 12, 2025, 10:00–12:00 CET
Venue: Online via VooV Meeting/ 騰訊會議 (Link: https://meeting.tencent.com/dm/pWP6lzBG7jvQ)
Language: Chinese/ 中文

Abstract:
本演讲以近代以来中国佛教史研究为案例，主要探究宗教史研究中如何处理文本与经验的复杂关系，这对于宗教思想史研究来讲具有重要的方法论意义。主体内容共分三部分，第一部分在现代中国学术史研究从80年代“思想史”到90年代“学术史”的转型脉络中，来说明中国佛教史研究的嬗变与得失。第二部分阐明近代中国佛学研究的方法论经验，特别从近代中国学术思想史研究中的经史学关系来加以分析，论述了哲学、新史学及经学等不同类型佛学研究的方式及其特点，并指出欧阳竟无为代表的内学研究对现代中国佛学研究所具有的启发意义。最后，指出近代以来中国佛学史研究受到域外研究的深刻影响，并从中深刻地反思与阐释如何恰当地处理中国佛教思想史研究中的在地经验与域外传统的关系。
Taking modern Chinese Buddhist historiography as a case study, this lecture examines how to approach the complex relationship between textual analysis and lived experience in the study of religious history—an issue of considerable methodological importance for the intellectual history of religion. The lecture consists of three main parts.
The first part situates the transformations, achievements, and limitations of Chinese Buddhist historiography within the broader intellectual shift in modern Chinese scholarship from the “history of thought” in the 1980s to the “history of scholarship” in the 1990s.
The second part elucidates the methodological insights of modern Chinese Buddhist studies, with particular attention to the relationship between canonical studies and historical scholarship as articulated in modern Chinese intellectual history. It analyzes the distinct approaches and characteristics of various modes of Buddhist scholarship, including philosophical studies, the New Historiography, and classical philology, and highlights the methodological significance of “inner learning” (neixue 內學) scholarship, represented by Ouyang Jingwu, for modern Buddhist studies.
Finally, the lecture discusses the profound influence of foreign scholarship on modern Chinese Buddhist historiography and offers reflections on how to appropriately navigate the relationship between local intellectual experience and external scholarly traditions in the study of Chinese Buddhist intellectual history.

Short Bio:
龚隽，中山大学哲学系教授、中山大学比较宗教研究所教授，副所长、博士研究生导师；中山大学哲学系佛学研究中心主任，2024年起任中山大学哲学系（珠海）、中山大学哲学系双聘教授。学术兼职有:中华外国哲学史学会东方哲学专业委员会副主任，中国社科院评价研究院宗教专业委员会委员，《新史学》（中华书局）学术编委，《汉语佛学评论》（上海古籍出版社）主编，《人文宗教研究》（北京大学宗教文化研究院主办）编委等。主要从事中国佛教思想史及中国哲学史的教学与研究。主要研究作品有1、《作为“知识”的近代佛学史论——在东亚视域内的知识史论述》，商务印书馆，2019年版，（与陈继东教授合著）。2、《中国禅学研究入门》，（与陈继东教授合著），复旦大学出版社，2009年版。3、《禅史钩沉：以问题为中心的思想史论述》，北京三联书店，2006年版。4、《修剪菩提树――“批判佛教”的风暴》（译著），上海古籍出版社2004年版。在《哲学研究》、《世界宗教研究》、《中国哲学史》、《台湾大学佛学研究中心学报》、《国际禅研究》（日本东洋大学主办）等海内外学术刊物发表论文40余篇。
Gong Jun is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Sun Yat-sen University and Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of Comparative Religion. He also serves as Director of the Center for Buddhist Studies. Since 2024, he has held a dual appointment at both the Guangzhou and Zhuhai Philosophy Departments of Sun Yat-sen University.
His professional roles include Vice Chair of the Committee on Eastern Philosophy of the Chinese Association for the History of Foreign Philosophy, member of the Religion Committee of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Evaluation Institute, editorial board member of New Historiography 新史学, Editor-in-Chief of Review of Chinese Buddhist Studies 汉语佛学评论, and editorial board member of Journal of Humanistic and Religious Studies 人文宗教研究.
His research focuses on the intellectual history of Chinese Buddhism and Chinese philosophy. Major publications include:《作为“知识”的近代佛学史论》 (Modern Buddhist Studies as “Knowledge”, 2019, with Chen Jidong); 《中国禅学研究入门》 (An Introduction to Chinese Chan Studies, 2009, with Chen Jidong);《禅史钩沉》 (Excavating the History of Chan, 2006); 《修剪菩提树——“批判佛教”的风暴》 (Pruning the Bodhi Tree: The Storm of “Critical Buddhism”, 2004, translation)
He has published more than forty articles in leading journals in China and abroad.