BGIS: A Searchable Relational Database of Buddhist Monasteries

in China

Jiang Wu 吳疆 ,Associate Professor, The University of Arizona

Source materials

Chan lamp histories and Biographies of Eminent Monks 燈史 /高僧傳

Monks’ Chronological Biographies 年譜 Monks’ Biographies 行實 Monks’ Recorded Sayings and Literary

Collections 語錄文集 Mountain Gazetteers 山志

Hierarchy of Chan Patriarchs One master has multiple

disciples: one to many relationship

One disciple has one master: one to one relationship

Exceptions: one disciple might claim to have multiple masters: many to many relationship

Result: such a person might have positions in two different hierarchy

Summary: Elements of Relationship

People (including both monks and lay believers): dharma name, literary name, birth date, death date, birth place, secular name, sectarian affiliation, dharma masters, education, degree, monasteries resided, texts rewritten or about, lay followers associated, disciples.

Monasteries: name, location (province, prefecture, county).

Texts: title, author, date of completion or printing, authors of the preface

Design Model

Query

Database AMonasteries in Tang

Database B

Monasteries in SongDatabase C

Monasteries in Ming

Personal Info

Monk Info

Literati Info

Monastery Info

Database D

Monastery in Modern China

Text Info

Images and Pictures

Gazetteer Info

Search Functions Basic search: allows search for single record with cross-

referencing. Monk search: if the user knows the name of a given monk,

regardless dharma name, literary name, or other names, a record about this monk will be generated. In addition, this record provides links for monasteries and texts if applicable.

Monastery: if the user knows the name of a given monastery, a record about this monastery, including latitude and longitude will be generated. A map will be provided showing the location of the monastery. Links to the record of its abbots are available.

Text search: if the user knows the name of a text or its author, the search will generate the record this text plus a link to its author’s record.

Advanced Search

This function allows a variety of combination of query criteria. Search all or a limited number of generations of disciples of a given

master and show their monasteries on a map. For example, search Miyun Yuanwu’s dharma heirs within ten generations and show the monasteries they presided on map.

Search all or a limited number of generations of disciples of a given master in one or two provinces or localities and show them on a map. For example, search Miyun Yuanwu’s dharma heir within three generations who resided in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

Search the name and number of abbots who resided in a given monastery in a given time period. For example, list all abbots who resided in Tiantong monastery from 1600-1700.