焚書

Fén shū 焚書 (“A Book to Burn”) by 李贄 Lǐ Zhì / Lǐ Zhuówú (1527–1602), the famous late-Míng iconoclastic philosopher’s principal collection of essays, letters, prefaces, and miscellaneous critical writings. First printed at Mácheng 麻城 in 1590; banned and burned multiple times during the Míng-Qīng period (hence its provocative title). Contains a number of essays of Buddhist content, including reflections on the Avataṃsaka and on Chán practice. The work was a foundational text for the Tàizhōu 泰州 left wing of Wáng Yángmíng learning and for later late-imperial heterodox intellectual currents.