In the double names of “Chinese traditional culture” and “religious studies”, Buddhist studies in China mainland restarted totally since the early of 1980s. From compiling Buddhist Tripitaka and writing history of Buddhism to studying on particular Buddhist scriptures, figures and sects, there are a large number of important research results in the field of Buddhist studies in China during last near 40 years. To the end of last century, religious studies as a branch of philosophy, became an independent discipline. Since then it is possible to confer doctorate in the major of Buddhist Studies, and professional training in this field in Chinese universities has a rapid growth, such as Peking University and Renmin University of China, gradually expand the curriculum system in the subject of Buddhist studies or Buddhology.

  Recently Buddhist studies in China show new trends and new branches appear:

  1. Rethinking the research standpoint or methodology: scholars was used to think about the relationship between academic principle and religious belief, for example, how could scholars without Buddhist faith research experience of Buddhist meditation etc. But now, scholars think about whether Buddhism could be studies only in the context of China, actually more and more scholars begin to study in the perspective of world history, for example, the relationship between Chinese Buddhism and Indian Buddhism, and the interactions among East Asian Buddhist traditions, and the links of Chinese Buddhism with Buddhism of Central Asia, Tibetan Buddhism, and Theravada Buddhism.

  2. Developing Buddhist philology: Dun-huang manuscripts has been a valuable data in Buddhist studies of 20th Century, and now Chinese scholars begin to be also interested with ancient manuscripts stored in Japan. Meanwhile, Buddhist scriptures in Sanskrit and Tibetan or in some ancient language of Central Asia, get much attention in China in recent years. In the past it is mainly engaged by scholars of language studies, and now more and more Buddhist scholars join in the field. As a result, some important researches are now carried out.

  3. Researching on Buddhist exegetics: translation and commentary of Buddhist scriptures, the tradition of preaching Buddhist scriptures in history, such fields become great importance to Chinese Buddhist scholars in recent years. Previous studies of Chinese Buddhism mainly focused on the studies of Buddhist history and doctrines of Buddhist schools, but now they pay more attention to the interpretation of Buddhist scriptures by ancient monks, and particularly to the textual structure of those Buddhist classics written by Chinese monks.

  Key words: Buddhist studies, contemporary China, Buddhist philology, Buddhist exegetics

  Dr. Li Silong, professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies Department at Peking University, director of the Center for Studies of Buddhist Education at Peking University, mainly studies on history of Chinese Buddhism, and history of Chinese religions, and Buddhist philosophy. During 1987-1991, learning in Philosophy Department of Fudan University for Bachelor degree of philosophy, and during 1993-1999, in Philosophy Department of Peking University for Master and Doctor degree of philosophy. During 2001-2002, as a visiting scholar at Harvard-Yenching Institute, and Center for the study of world religions at Harvard University. By now, several monographs have been published, Studies on Master Zhi-yi of Tian-tai School, Chinese Buddhist History and Tian-tai School, A History of Buddhist Studies in Europe and America, Buddhism in America, Chinese Buddhism and Folk Society, and also as a translator of Buddhist Conquest of China into Chinese, and as chief editor of Journal of Humanistic Religion.