A Chinese Pilgrimage to the Heart of Tibet
open access
- Martino Dibeltulo Concu - University of Michigan, USA - email
Abstract
Published in Chongqing in 1937, Xiandai Xizang 現代西藏 (Modern Tibet) is a key study of Tibet during the tumultuous period of Japan’s invasion of China in World War II. Authored by Fazun 法尊 (1902-1980), an eminent monk, scholar, translator, and authority on the Tibetan language, this work illuminates the interplay of society, religion, politics, and empire that shaped China-Tibet relations in a transformative age. Despite Fazun’s major contribution to Tibetan and Buddhist studies in China, his legacy has often been detached from the relationships he cultivated with his Tibetan teachers and reimagined in modernity within the ancient lineage of Chinese pilgrim-translators. Still, his influence remains profound to this day. This project presents the first English translation of Fazun’s original work, striving to bridge a gap in academic scholarship and enhance understanding of this critical historical period. The translation is grounded in philological research and historical-religious analysis. It is based on the first edition of Xiandai Xizang from 1937, which the author consulted during his tenure at the University of Sichuan, Chengdu in 2006. The translated volume is structured to include the translator’s introduction, the English translation, and the original Chinese text. The introduction not only outlines Fazun’s life and the context of his work but also assesses how effectively he carried the legacy of the Chinese pilgrim-translator tradition into modernity. This project, by offering the first comprehensive study of Fazun’s original thought and writings, aims to refine existing insights and foster a dynamic dialogue with contemporary scholarship in Tibetan and Buddhist studies.
Keywords Buddhism and Modernity • Modern Tibet • Pilgrim-translators • China-Tibet Relations • Fazun
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/979-12-5742-024-6 | e-ISBN 979-12-5742-024-6 | Pubblicato 15 Aprile 2026 | Accettato 15 Gennaio 2026 | Presentato 01 Settembre 2025 | Lingua en, it
Copyright © 2026 Martino Dibeltulo Concu. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.