Search Results (49)

This paper explores the concept of diasporic hybridity through Hanshan’s (Cold Mountain) life and poetry during the Tang dynasty (618–907). Departing from traditional diaspora models of forced migration, Hanshan’s voluntary exile from the Confucian-dominated capital to the spiritually diverse Tiantai Mountain reveals how internal dislocation can foster hybrid religious identities. Through a close reading of his poetry and spiritual journey, this study argues that Hanshan embodies the Chinese philosophy of Hehe (和合), which is a model of religious pluralism grounded in “harmony through difference.” By integrating Homi Bhabha’s “third space” theory and Arjun Appadurai’s “diaspora landscape,” the paper demonstrates how Hanshan’s engagement with Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism presents a dynamic framework for understanding interreligious dialog. Hanshan’s hybrid spiritual identity thus offers a transhistorical lens for reimagining religious pluralism in both historical and contemporary contexts. Full article

This study systematically investigates the color origin and coloration mechanisms of yellow-green nephrite from Ruoqiang, Xinjiang, using multiple analytical techniques including hyperspectral colorimetry, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, titrimetry, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), Raman spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. A pioneering quantitative model (R² = 0.942) was established between hue (H) and the Fe₂O₃ ratio (Fe₂O₃/TFe), revealing that the coloration mechanism is jointly governed by Fe³⁺ charge transfer (300–400 nm absorption band) and Fe²⁺→Fe³⁺ transitions (600–630 nm absorption band). Furthermore, the intensity variation in the 3651 cm⁻¹ Raman peak serves to further confirm the critical role of Fe³⁺ occupancy in the tremolite lattice for color modulation. In combination with the partition patterns of Rare Earth elements (REEs) (right-leaning LREE distribution with negative Eu anomaly) and trace element characteristics, this study supports the classification of Ruoqiang yellow-green nephrite as a high oxygen fugacity magnesian marble-type deposit. In this type of deposit, the ore-forming environment facilitates Fe³⁺ enrichment and yellow-green hue formation. The findings provide new theoretical insights into the chromatic genesis of yellow-green nephrite and hold significant implications for its identification, quality grading, and research on metallogenic mechanisms. Full article

In 995, Yuanqing 源淸, a renowned master of the Tiantai school in China, requested the Japanese Buddhist community to critique his work, the Guanjing shu xianyao ji 觀經疏顯要記 (Xianyao ji). In response, Genshin 源信 and Kakuun 覚運, two prominent Japanese Tendai scholars, authored the Kan muryōju kyō sho kenyō ki hamon 観無量寿経疏顕要記破文 (Hamon) containing 21 critiques. This paper examines the historical context, content, and influence of the Hamon. The Hamon serves as an important example of Sino-Japanese Buddhist exchange, as it was the Chinese side that first initiated this intellectual engagement with the Japanese monks—and not the other way around. The analysis of the text indicates that the Hamon was not merely a critique but a platform for intellectual exchange. Genshin and Kakuun’s critiques reflect Silla’s Pure Land Buddhism, whereas Yuanqing’s Xianyao ji embodies the Chinese Tiantai commentary tradition on the Guan wuliangshou jing 觀無量壽經. Although not directly recorded in Chinese sources, some records suggest that the Hamon had reached China and potentially influenced Zhili’s 知禮 thought. This study aims to deepen our understanding of Sino-Japanese Buddhist exchanges during the late 10th and 11th centuries, illustrating what may be described as ‘Buddhism on a countercurrent.’ Full article

This study offers a comparative analysis of preparatory practices in Buddhist meditation, focusing on the Tiantai tradition of medieval China and the Nyingma tradition of tenth-century Tibet. Challenging the view of meditation as solely a mental experience, it highlights the critical role of the body in shaping contemplative training. Drawing on recent Buddhist studies and cultural embodiment theory, the paper argues that preparatory practices are essential stages of psychophysical transformation, not just preliminary steps. The study explores early Chinese Tiantai texts, particularly Zhiyi’s meditation manuals, which present twenty-five preparatory practices involving posture, diet, breath control, and ethical restraint. In parallel, the paper examines Nupchen Sangye Yeshe’s bSam gtan mig sgron from the Tibetan Nyingma tradition, highlighting its emphasis on physical integrity, ritual purity, four supportive conditions, and environmental harmony. While Tiantai sources provide a structured methodology, Nyingma practices integrate these elements within broader tantric and visionary frameworks. The paper concludes that these practices are not only supportive of meditation, but also performative enactments of Buddhist cosmology and ethics, positioning the body as central to meditation’s transformative potential. Full article

Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), the causal agent of wheat powdery mildew, poses a significant threat to global wheat production. In this study, we identified and characterized a broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistance gene, PmL709, in a resistant cultivated emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum) accession: L709. Using bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-Seq) analysis and molecular markers, PmL709 was mapped to a 1.7 cM interval on chromosome arm 2BS, flanked by markers Xdw05/YTU95-04/YTU95-06/YTU95-08/Xdw10/Xdw11 and YTU692B-094, corresponding to a 21.82–25.94 Mb physical interval (cv. Svevo), using the segregated population crossed by L709 and a susceptible durum wheat cultivar, Langdon. Referring to the origin, the resistance spectra, and the physical position with known resistance genes on chromosome arm 2BS, PmL709 was likely to be an allele of Pm68. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 3923 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between resistant and susceptible bulks, enriched in pathways such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, MAPK signaling, and plant–pathogen interactions. qRT-PCR validated the differential expression of nine candidate genes within the PmL709 interval, highlighting their potential roles in disease resistance. The flanking markers could accurately trace the presence of PmL709 from resistant accession L709 in a survey of 46 susceptible wheat accessions. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms of powdery mildew resistance in wheat and offer practical tools for marker-assisted breeding to develop resistant cultivars. Full article

Having adopted, appropriated, and altered Indian forms of Buddhism, various schools of Chinese Buddhist thought inherited and transformed essential orientations of both Buddhism and traditional Chinese philosophy insofar as it exhibits a tendency toward seeking universality in its understanding of the world. Within the works of prominent figures and schools such as Sengzhao and the Tiantai school, Huayan, the Consciousness-Only school, and Chan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhist thought integrates the diversity of phenomena through the notion of a unifying “mind-consciousness”. This approach creates the framework for understanding the relationship between humans and all things based on the comprehensive nature of consciousness. Given this foundation, Chinese Buddhist thought places a high value on the equality of all beings, advocates for dismantling distinctions between individuals and the world, and transcends the distinctions of reality to pursue universal unity. By dissolving the boundaries of existence and non-existence, the self and things, and the individual ego, this philosophical outlook lays a cognitive foundation for eradicating the “discriminating mind” in daily life and offers insights into overcoming separatism and isolationism. The Chinese Buddhist pursuit of universal consistency, which is simultaneously of this world yet transcendent, reflects Buddhism’s profound concern for humanity’s shared destiny. Full article

In 2019, a disease outbreak struck a hybrid sturgeon farm (Huso dauricus ♀ × A. schrenckii ♂) in Tiantai, Zhejiang province, leading to the deaths of 8000 sturgeons. The sturgeons exhibited reduced appetite, lethargic and uncoordinated swimming, and physical signs such as reddish petechiae and ulcers on the body and fins. Hemorrhagic spots were observed on the kidneys, spleen, and gonads, alongside reddish intestines with hemorrhagic ascites in the abdominal cavity. ST-1902 was isolated and identified as Aeromonas hydrophila through physiological and biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The pathogenicity of ST-1902 was confirmed through a challenge test, with a median lethal dosage (LD50) of 7.9 × 10⁶ CFU/IND. Histopathological examination showed hyperplasia and neoplasm-like changes in the epicedial mesothelial tissues, enlarged and necrosis renal tissue, and serious hemosiderosis in spleen and gills. Virulent genes (Aer, Epa, Alt, Hly, and Act) were detected in ST-1902, corresponding to typical β-hemolysis, extracellular protease, and enterotoxin. Moreover, antimicrobial experiment detection indicated ST-1902 is sensitive to quinolones and phenicols but resistant to sulfamethoxazole, aminoglycoside antibiotics with Sul1, and Intl and Ant (3”)-I. These results suggest that A. hydrophila was the causative agent of the sturgeon disease and highlight the emerging threat it poses to the sturgeon industry. Full article

The IV subfamily of receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK-IV), known as calcium-binding receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (CRCKs), plays a vital role in plant signal transduction, particularly in coordinating growth and responses to abiotic stresses. However, our comprehension of CRCK genes in Populus deltoides, a species characterized as fast-growing and pest-resistant but with drought intolerance, is limited. Here, we identify 6 members of the CRCK subfamily on a genome-wide scale in P. deltoides, denoted as PdeCRCK1–PdeCRCK6. An evolutionary and structural analysis revealed highly conserved kinase catalytic domains across all PdeCRCKs, characterized by calmodulin (CaM)-binding sites and serine (Ser)/threonine (Thr) phosphorylation sites. The cis-acting elements of promoters indicated the presence of responsive elements for plant hormones, abiotic stresses, and transcription factor binding sites, which is supported by the distinct transcriptional expression patterns of PdeCRCKs under abscisic acid (ABA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and mannitol treatments. A transient overexpression of PdeCRCK3/5/6 in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves indicated their involvement in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, polyamine gene synthesis, and ABA signaling pathway modulation. Immunoprecipitation–Mass Spectrometry (IP–MS) and a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay showed that PdeCRCK6 interacted with AAA-type ATPase proteins and ubiquitin, suggesting its potential function in being involved in chloroplast homeostasis and the 26S ubiquitin protease system. Taken together, these findings offer a comprehensive analysis of the RLCK-IV subfamily members in P. deltoides, especially laying a foundation for revealing the potential mechanism of PdeCRCK6 in response to osmotic stresses and accelerating the molecular design breeding of drought tolerance in poplar. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are widely detected in urban drinking water systems. However, the presence and characteristics of MPs in mountainous drinking water systems with independent and simple filtration facilities have been overlooked. In this study, we revealed the ubiquity of MPs and demonstrated that their concentrations increased along with the pipeline length in Bainitan Village, Tiantai County, China. The simple filtration facility in this village did not effectively remove most MPs. Polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyethylene terephthalate were the dominant polymers in water samples (72.32% in total), while polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, and polyethylene were the most prevalent in the sediment (74.00% in total) of the reservoir. Long fragments were the predominant shape of MPs in all samples, with the majority being smaller than 100 μm. The estimated daily intake of MPs through drinking water ingestion was highest in infants (2.14–31.26 MPs/kg bw/day), compared to children (1.41–20.67 MPs/kg bw/day) and adults (1.05–15.35 MPs/kg bw/day), highlighting their increased vulnerability. This emphasizes the need for advanced water treatment systems in mountainous regions. It also underscores the necessity for government attention to improve water safety in remote areas. Our research will contribute valuable baseline data for further research on MP exposure, particularly in mountainous communities. Full article

The character “即 (jí)” in Chinese shares the meaning of “is”, indicating an identity or equivalence between two concepts. In this framework, one might expect the antecedent and the consequent of “即” to be identical in meaning, or at least for a term with a positive connotation not to be paired with one of negative connotation. However, in Tiantai Buddhism, many core propositions follow the structure “x 即 y”, where x is negative and y is positive, or vice versa. This suggests an identity between opposites, creating a paradoxical feature in the system. This essay argues that the paradox within Tiantai Buddhism is a veridical paradox, as defined by Quine, meaning it can be resolved in various ways and does not reflect a genuine contradiction in reality. While Western Buddhist philosophers and logicians have focused primarily on the paradoxes in Nāgārjuna’s thought, this essay demonstrates that Chinese Tiantai Buddhism offers practical resolutions to these paradoxes. The paper first explicates the paradox by examining its roots in Buddhist history, then explores responses to it. Finally, different methods for resolving the paradox are compared and evaluated. Full article

The dispersion of silica in rubber systems and its interaction with rubber are two key factors in the preparation of rubber composites with excellent properties. In view of this, silica modified with terminal isocyanate-based polybutadiene liquid rubber (ITPB) is used to improve the dispersion effect of silica in rubber and enhance its interaction with the rubber matrix to improve the rubber’s performance. The impact of different modification conditions on the dispersion of silica and the properties of modified silica-filled rubber composites were studied by changing the amount of ITPB and the modification method of silica, including blending and chemical grafting. The experimental results show that ITPB is successfully grafted onto silica, and the use of modified silica improves the cross-linking density of rubber, promotes the rate of rubber vulcanization, and overcomes the shortcomings of the delayed vulcanization of silica itself. When the ratio of ITPB liquid rubber to silica equals 1:20, the comprehensive performance of rubber is the best, the ITPB-modified silica has a better dispersion effect in rubber, and the rolling resistance is slightly improved, with tensile strength reaching 12.6 MPa. The material demonstrates excellent overall performance and holds promise for applications in the rail, automotive, and electrical fields. Full article

The Daitokuji Old Collection’s 500 Luohans Paintings 五百羅漢圖, painted by Southern Song Mingzhou 明州 artists Lin Tinggui 林庭珪 and Zhou Jichang 周季常, have become a focal point in recent studies on the Chinese Buddhist material culture of the Song Dynasty. Among the 500 Luohans series, five paintings are related to the ancient Indian legend of Emperor Aśoka’s creation of 84,000 stupas. These paintings include “Building a Stupa” (No.78), “King Aśoka Stupa Emitting Light” (No.79), “Precious Stupa on the Rock” (No.80), and “Miracle of Light-Emitting Relics” (No.81), which are currently housed in the Daitokuji 大德寺 in Kyoto, Japan, and “Luohans Watching the Relics’ Light” (B5), which is housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the US. However, the way in which the “King Aśoka Stupa” 阿育王塔 and “Relics’ Light” 舍利光 series were integrated into the overall visual narrative of the 500 Luohans in the Daitokuji and Boston collections, as well as the profound meanings and social-cultural contexts embedded in these images, have been rarely studied in depth. The introduction of the miraculous relics theme into the Daitokuji Old Collection’s 500 Luohans Paintings originates from an earlier version by the monk Fa Neng. However, Fa Neng’s version recorded by the Northern Song literati Qin Guan 秦觀 does not mention the King Aśoka Stupa. The artists had considerable freedom in depicting miraculous relic phenomena and King Aśoka Stupa. The specific details of King Aśoka Stupa’s background in Tiantai Mountain 天台山, such as rock bridges, waterfalls, and rock caves, as well as the craftsmanship of King Aśoka Stupa, reflect particular contemporary ideas. The vivid depictions of the “King Aśoka Stupa” and “Relics’ Light” in the Daitokuji Present Collection and the Boston Collection of the 500 Luohans may indicate a close connection between the creation of these images and the fervent Relics Worship at King Aśoka Temple 阿育王寺 in Mingzhou during Southern Song. This paper synthesizes these images, ancient Chinese and Japanese manuscripts, and fieldwork insights to interpret the sources and significance of these images. Full article

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive cardiovascular disease, which may lead to severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction. As one of the main PH disease groups, pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction. Increased pulmonary artery resistance consequently causes right heart failure, which is the major reason for morbidity and mortality in this disease. Although various treatment strategies have been available, the poor clinical prognosis of patients with PAH reminds us that further studies of the pathological mechanism of PAH are still needed. Inflammation has been elucidated as relevant to the initiation and progression of PAH, and plays a crucial and functional role in vascular remodeling. Many immune cells and cytokines have been demonstrated to be involved in the pulmonary vascular lesions in PAH patients, with the activation of downstream signaling pathways related to inflammation. Consistently, this influence has been found to correlate with the progression and clinical outcome of PAH, indicating that immunity and inflammation may have significant potential in PAH therapy. Therefore, we reviewed the pathogenesis of inflammation and immunity in PAH development, focusing on the potential targets and clinical application of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy. Full article

The prelude holds dual significance. Firstly, it denotes the initial exploration of sectarian Buddhism by the Sanlun zong and the Tiantai zong. Secondly, it signifies the act of “exploring” itself as a means of establishing a distinct sect. The concept of “Discerning the Zong” not only permeates the context of the sectarianization of Buddhism but also exerts influence on the evolution trajectory of the Sinicization of Buddhism to some extent. Sectarian Buddhism is rooted in the foundational principles and overarching framework of the Sanlun zong and the Tiantai zong, presenting a continuous portrayal of the development of Chinese Buddhist sects. Full article

Plant-derived PA10T is regarded as one of the most promising semi-aromatic polyamides; however, shortcomings, including low dimensional accuracy, high moisture absorption, and relatively high dielectric constant and loss, have impeded its extensive utilization. Polymer blending is a versatile and cost-effective method to fabricate new polymeric materials with excellent comprehensive performance. In this study, various ratios of PA10T/PPO blends were fabricated via melt blending with the addition of a SEBS-g-MAH compatibilizer. Molau test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to study the influence of SEBS-g-MAH on the compatibility of PA10T and PPO. These studies indicated that SEBS-g-MAH effectively refines the domain size of the dispersed PPO phase and improves the dispersion stability of PPO particles within a hexafluoroisopropanol solvent. This result was attributed to the in situ formation of the SEBS-g-PA10T copolymer, which serves as a compatibilizer. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the melting–crystallization behavior and thermal stability of blends closely resembled that of pure PA10T. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that as the PPO content increased, there was a decrease in the glass transition temperature and storage modulus of PA10T. The water absorption rate, injection molding shrinkage, dielectric properties, and mechanical strength of blends were also systematically investigated. As the PPO content increased from 10% to 40%, the dielectric loss at 2.5 GHz decreased significantly from 0.00866 to 0.00572, while the notched Izod impact strength increased from 7.9 kJ/m² to 13.7 kJ/m². Full article