As we have received them, the texts of the Chinese Buddhist canon (usually accessed via the Taishō edition), and other Chinese Buddhist texts, are rife with problems of incorrect attribution and dating. It is therefore imperative that scholars vigorously exercise critical awareness with regard to traditional attributions and dates. However, it is often difficult for individual scholars to keep abreast of evidence, arguments and judgments in primary literature and secondary scholarship, which might bear on the critical assessment of attributions or dates for individual texts. The Chinese Buddhist Canonical Attributions database (CBC@) is a user-contributor reference tool designed to help scholars collaborate to keep track of information regarding such questions.

This Guide gives users an overview of the CBC@ database, and contains information vital to sensible use. Users are urged strongly to read this Guide before making use of the database itself. 

You can also download a pdf version of the guide here.

Contents:

• Introduction
• Focus
• "Assertions"
• Searching
• Caveats
• User-Contributor Model
• Bibliography
• Abbreviations