Transcribing the Sacred in the Printing Era: A Study of Handwritten Buddhist Canon during the Northern Song Dynasty

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The current paper is a major contribution to the study of hand-copied Buddhist texts after the advent of printing technology in China. The author considers the control of printing technology and the eager need for canons in the Jiangnan region to be two main factors for the mass production of handwritten canons. The paper is generally clear in arguments and structure. At the same time, the author needs to address the following issues:

 

1)      The author should engage with more secondary sources written in Western languages (e.g. Chen Jinhua ed., Chinese Buddhist Canons in the Age of Printing; Wu Jiang ed., Reinventing the Tripitaka: Transformation of the Buddhist Canon in Modern East Asia)

2)      The author is insightful in pointing out the relation between the control over the translation and printing of Buddhist texts in Northern Song. Meanwhile, it’s better to engage with Tansen Sen’s paper on Song Buddhist translation, which argues that state control contributes to the decline of the quality of translation.

3)      On page 5, the author cites Yang Yi’s record to indicate the cost related to a printing canon and indicates this could be a reason for the flourishing of handwritten ones. However, were handwritten ones significantly cheaper? According to many materials used later in the paper, a handwritten project had also to rely on collaborations between the monasteries and the laity.

4)      On page 6, lines 236-237, the author mentions the argument challenge “some scholar’s view…” Who are these scholars?

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English in the paper is genral clear and understandable. At the same time, it also contains some minor problems, for example:

1) Line 35, printing era, not printed

2) Lines 38-39, "While the manuscript....cave." This is not a sentence.

3) Line 74, I will rationalize... Rationalize is not a suitable word here.

4) Lines 118-119, what is "the manuscript environment"?

5) Line 175, 逮至道初 is not properly translated.

6) Line 346, volumes is better replaced by fascicles

7) Line 372, what is "pregnant meaning"? rich meaning?

8) Line 415, vow is better replaced by prayer

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment. Thanks!

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

A good article.

Two articles are recommended:

1. "Zhejiang Rui'an Beisong Huiguang ta chutu wenwu 浙江瑞安北宋慧光塔出土文物," in Wenwu 文物，No. 1, 1973, pp.48-58.  A number of sources of hand-copied Buddhist scriptures are recorded in this essay more than a half century ago. 

2. Li Yuxin 黎毓馨，Yue zhong fo chuan -- dongnan fojiao shengshi shengji shengwu 越中佛传-- 东南佛教盛事圣迹圣物, Beijing: Zhongguo shudian, 2017, p.222-227.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your invaluable feedback. I am especially thankful for the articles you recommended, particularly "Zhejiang Rui'an Beisong Huiguang ta chutu wenwu 浙江瑞安北宋慧光塔出土文物." Although my article primarily focuses on Song handwritten copies of the canon, the hand-copied Buddhist scriptures recorded in this article will significantly contribute to my understanding of the shared manuscript environment in the Jiangnan region.

Moreover, the revelation about the manuscript excavated from the Huiguang ta," Foshuo wugou jingguang da tuoluoni jing 佛说无垢净光大陀罗尼经," labeled with the Chinese character "bi 必," potentially belonging to a canon collection, is intriguing. I am keen to delve into this manuscript and explore its implications further. 

Additionally, the resource "Yue zhong fo chuan -- dongnan fojiao shengshi shengji shengwu 越中佛传-- 东南佛教盛事圣迹圣物" appears promising, specifically the manuscript of the Jinsushan Canon, which aligns closely with my thematic scope. I will try integrating this material into my ongoing work on this topic.

Thanks again for your guidance!