The Heart Sūtra: Revisiting Its Texts, History, and Meaning - Henry C. H. Shiu - Bookniverse

The Heart Sūtra: Revisiting Its Texts, History, and Meaning

Henry C. H. Shiu

US $36.00

US $45.00

2025/11

9789888900572

ePub

Hong Kong University Press

copy

About this book

Religion & Numerology > Catholic

Religion & Numerology > Buddhism > Buddhist Classics & Commentary

In The Heart Sūtra: Revisiting Its Texts, History, and Meaning, Henry C. H. Shiu investigates the historical origins of the Heart Sūtra, a significant Buddhist scripture. He compares the Sanskrit texts with their Chinese and Tibetan translations to analyse whether the Heart Sūtra might be a Chinese apocryphon, through detailed linguistic examination. To achieve this goal, Shiu thoroughly examines the primary sources from which the scripture was extracted. He emphasises the necessity of reading the Heart Sūtra in the larger context of the Perfection of Wisdom literature, which contains the essence of Mahāyāna Buddhist teaching. In this monograph, Shiu successfully transcends the boundaries between the Chinese, Indian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions and provides a revisionist interpretation of the Heart Sūtra.

About the author(s)

Henry C. H. Shiu

Henry C. H. Shiu is Shi Wu De Professor in Chinese Buddhist Studies at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Canada. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes on dementia care, disability, ecological ethics, chaplaincy, intercultural competencies, and the ritual of animal release, all examined from a Buddhist perspective, as well as on the history of Buddhism in Canada. In addition to his academic work in Buddhist studies, he is the author of several Chinese-language books on Western classical music. His other Chinese publications include annotated studies of Nāgārjuna’s hymns and the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga, reflecting his ongoing interest in both classical Buddhist philosophy and contemporary applications of the Dharma.

About the publisher

Established in 1956, and part of the University of Hong Kong, Asia’s most prominent English-speaking university, HKU Press publishes more than 30 new titles annually, with a growing proportion (more than 25%) in Chinese. Building on Hong Kong's unique global position, HKU Press books examine, critique, and celebrate Asia’s place in the world. We have gained particular renown for publications in Chinese history and culture, law, public health, social work, film/media studies, art and architecture/urban planning.

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