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 While this remains a work in progress, we are pleased to
invite you to browse or
search the entries in this dictionary. What
follows here is a brief synopsis derived from the Preface
and Guide sections of the print form. For further
details, please see the print version, which is readily available from the
online store. The preface and appendices to this volume of
work are especially helpful in laying a foundation for
understanding the entries found in this work.
The printed dictionary was published in 2002 and consists of over 2700 different terms and
cross-references. Based in part on its predecessor,
the Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts, this
dictionary has been vastly expanded and improved. This online tool
was developed to augment the printed dictionary,
which is currently available and highly recommended for use with this online tool. Most
entries appear in English, though here are some important
considerations:
- Names of actual historical figures are given in the language
of the country of their origin, with few exceptions. The
same holds true of historical places.
- Most of the various names of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and
mythical beings are translated into English in this work.
In cases where the translation is in question, the romanized
Japanese form is provided.
- Chinese words, with few exceptions, are romanized according
to the Wade-Giles (WG) system. Some are available in the
newer pinyin system equivalents, denoted where applicable as PY.
- Japanese words are romanized according to the modified
Hepburn system.
- Era identifiers are as follows: Before Common Era (BCE) is
equivalent to BC, Common Era (CE) is equivalent to AD.
Key differences between the online and print versions:
- The diacritical marks have largely been dropped from the
online text entries. The same applies for macrons.
This improves the compatibility with English language browsers
and eases searching. It is asserted that the
print version is best able to provide this functionality.
- For ease of use, the alphabetical
listings and search interfaces
use the alternate language renderings for improved cross-referencing.
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