Fafang's Interpretation of Yogācāra Learning in Relation to Modern Science

Abstract: Fafang 法舫 (1904–1951) was a prominent scholar-monk who made great contributions to China's Buddhist reform during the first half of the twentieth century. Despite the growing recognition of his work by scholars in recent years, Fafang's life and thought warrant much more extensive study. This article examines how Fafang interpreted Yogācāra learning in relation to modern science, discussing his connections and comparisons between the two, thereby to reveal his efforts to adapt Buddhism to modern discourses and his stance in response to the challenges posed by the West. As a significant figure representing the Wuchang School, clarifying Fafang's thought and position will also enhance our understanding of how "modernity" influenced the development of Chinese Buddhism, as well as the role that the Wuchang School played in the modernization of Buddhism.