The Last Gentleman: The Huichang Persecution of Buddhism as a Stimulus to the Spread of Printing

One very early reference in literary materials to printing in China is a fundraising appeal from the poet Sikong Tu for the reprinting of the Vinaya in Luoyang.  This is generally dated to the 880s, but close scrutiny suggests that the early years of the tenth century provide a better context.  Such scrutiny also suggests that restocking Buddhist literature after the massive losses due to persecution in the 840s formed a strong motive for the adoption of printing, despite lack of dynastic support for the new technology.

A Buddhist Studies Lectures lecture by Prof. T. H. Barrett (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Londen, United Kingdom)

T H Barrett studied at Yale after graduating from Cambridge, where he returned to teach in 1975 after further study in Japan; his Yale doctorate was awarded in 1978. From 1986 he was Professor of East Asian History at SOAS, London, and from 2010 has been Research Professor there. He has published extensively on the history of East Asian (primarily Chinese) religion, and latterly especially on the religious background to early Chinese printing.

If you have any questions with regard to the lecture, please do not hesitate to contact IIAS at iias@iias.nl or by phone at +31-71 527 2227. \\

Organisation
The Buddhist Studies Lectures are organised by: IIAS and Prof. Jonathan Silk (Professor of Buddhist Studies at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies).