Research on the Typical Writing Patterns at the End of Life in Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks

Abstract The writings about death in Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks serve to showcase the monks' dissemination of teachings and their ascetic accomplishments. The deathbed writings are categorized into three distinct patterns based on the monks' perceptions of approaching death: foreknowledge, visions, and dreams. These categories are further divided into seven types, including predictive prophecies and signs from physical phenomena and celestial events. Each category of death-time writings is deeply rooted in Buddhist teachings as well as indigenous cultural traditions, reflecting the synthesis of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist influences. This synthesis illustrates the prevalent trend of religious syncretism in end-of-life writings during the Sui and Tang dynasties.