Hangzhou, the Chinese capital during the Song dynasty (960-1278), has been a cultural and economic hub for centuries and played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism throughout East Asia, particularly in the case of Chan (J. Zen; K. Sŏn) Buddhism.

The Encyclopedia of Hangzhou Buddhist Culture is the first dedicated reference source for Hangzhou’s Buddhist heritage and its associated cultural legacies.

Hangzhou’s cultural prominence expands beyond the monasteries and subsumes fine arts, material culture, and intellectual history. This Encyclopedia includes people, places, texts, industries, arts, concepts, and schools from pre-Tang China all the way through the Republican Period.