Advice on Learning Buddhist Chinese

Alexander James O'Neill
December 2, 2024

I am often asked how one goes about learning Buddhist Chinese. Studying Chinese for Buddhist texts, particularly classical and Buddhist Chinese, is a specialised endeavour that requires a methodical approach. Literary Chinese, often termed Classical Chinese, refers to the written language used in ancient China, a highly stylised medium distinct from spoken Chinese and characterised by conciseness and formality. While based on Classical Chinese, Buddhist Chinese incorporates unique vocabulary and syntax influenced by the translation of Buddhist texts from Sanskrit and other Central Asian languages. It also reflects the philosophical and doctrinal nuances of Buddhism, making it a challenging but rewarding field of study. Below, I outline a practical guide for learning Chinese with a focus on Buddhist studies, drawing from my personal experience—please consult other experts and resources for different opinions, as this will only represent what I found worked for me.

Getting Started: Modern and Ancient Languages as a Foundation

For those entirely new to Chinese, beginning with modern Chinese or Japanese (which utilises Chinese characters (kanji)) is a logical first step. Although modern Chinese and Japanese differ significantly from literary Chinese, they naturally provide familiarity with the script. I started learning modern Chinese in Taiwan, where using traditional Chinese characters proved invaluable. Unlike simplified characters, traditional forms are essential for Buddhist texts, making avoiding resources in simplified characters crucial. 

Modern East Asian Languages

Learning the foundational characters can be done in two ways, which should be balanced: (1) memorising characters with flashcards (there is an abundance of applications and websites that specialise in this) and (2) extensive reading. I began by reading and translating encyclopaedia articles on Buddhist topics from modern Chinese to English. Memorisation helps to cement your initial exposure to characters, and extensive reading allows it to be hardwired into your long-term memory through repeated exposure in context.

Sanskrit and its Role

For sutra literature, familiarity with Sanskrit is invaluable. Understanding Sanskrit structures and terminology enriches one’s grasp of Buddhist Chinese. Transliterations of Sanskrit or Central Asian terms into Chinese often retain phonetic clues that are best understood through Japanese or Korean pronunciations rather than Mandarin. While learning Mandarin pronunciations allows one to discuss texts with a larger scholastic base, there are also clear practicalities to becoming familiar with Japanese on-yomi readings or Korean readings of characters, which are often closer to the Middle Chinese pronunciations.

Developing Literacy in Classical and Buddhist Chinese

Transitioning to Classical and Buddhist Chinese requires targeted tools and strategies. Here are some resources and practices that worked for me.

1. Memorisation

Flashcards are indispensable for memorising characters, especially for high-frequency ones. I used software like Anki to create custom flashcards, focusing on characters shared between Chinese and Japanese. This dual approach helped solidify my understanding, particularly since I live and work in Japan.

2. Extensive Reading

While flashcards aid memorisation, extensive reading is crucial for deep learning. Reading Buddhist texts extensively will expose you to contextual character combinations and terms, reinforcing understanding and memory.  I suggest practising extensive reading with the assistance of resources such as primers and alongside specialised dictionaries.

Primer Texts

John Kieschnick’s Primer of Chinese Buddhist Writings is a game-changer. It introduces the reader to Buddhist Chinese grammar and syntax while distinguishing it from Classical Chinese. The primer's website offers online resources, including flashcards and audio recordings, that enhance the learning experience.

Specialised Dictionaries

Charles Muller’s Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (DDB) is an essential tool for any serious student of Buddhist Chinese. The DDB Access app by Jean Soulat allows for quick lookups of Buddhist terms, often absent from standard Chinese dictionaries. To take full advantage of the DDB, one should invest in a subscription or become a contributor (otherwise, there is a look-up limit). While less useful for Buddhist-specific uses, Paul Kroll's A Student's Dictionary of Classical and Mediaeval Chinese is the most authoritative resource for Chinese vocabulary dating from 500 BCE to 1000 CE. 

Learning by Pure Reading versus Translating

Reading without having to produce translations considerably increases the amount of text you will read through. However, if the goal of learning to read Buddhist Chinese is to translate it for study or practice, then I suggest translating while reading. This will also require you to think carefully about the meaning of each character. When translating, you do not need to read an entire text beforehand. Instead, start with small sections—sentences or paragraphs—and focus on deeply understanding them. Context is critical, and while reading pages of the surrounding text is not always necessary, familiarity with the broader work can guide vocabulary and interpretive choices for key terms. 

For beginners, working with a pre-translated text can provide helpful benchmarks for comparison (but in that case, it is crucial to identify well-translated texts to use for this purpose). This can also help you gauge whether your translation is at a point where it can be shared or published or whether you still need to work on the essentials. Finally, when you are at a point where you can produce work worth sharing, the next step is identifying works worth translating—ideally, materials that have hitherto not been translated or which need a revised translation.

I wish you luck in your learning process!