The Ideological Transformation and Regional Practice of Bashu Chan Buddhism

The Sinicization of Chan Buddhism constitutes a central issue in the localization of Buddhism in China. Existing scholarship has largely followed a “Central Plains–Jiangnan” narrative framework, paying comparatively little attention to the distinctive developmental trajectory and historical contributions of Chan Buddhism in the Bashu region of Southwest China. Focusing on the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song periods, this study employs historical analysis—including textual analysis, intellectual history, and regional social history—as well as cross-cultural comparative methods to systematically examine the genealogical origins and ideological evolution of Bashu Chan Buddhism. It further investigates the mechanisms through which Chan Buddhism interacted with Bashu regional society and cultural traditions, thereby revealing a localized path distinct from those of Northern and Jiangnan Chan traditions. The study finds that Bashu Chan Buddhism was primarily structured around the Jingzhong–Baotang lineage and the Hongzhou lineage. Its Sinicization at the ideological level was achieved through the integration of Confucian and Daoist theories of mind and human nature, the secular transformation of cultivation practices, and the localization of ethical norms. At the practical level, it realized comprehensive regional rootedness through four major pathways: the construction of monastic networks, the integration of folk beliefs, innovations in artistic expression, and mutual engagement with literati culture. Bashu Chan Buddhism was not only a crucial force in the paradigm shift from “Indian Chan” to “Chinese Chan,” but also provided a distinctive Southwestern model for the Sinicization of Buddhism, thereby reshaping the pluralistic narrative of the Sinicization of Chan Buddhism in China.