ReadZen: An Open Working Environment for the Digital Study of Classical Chinese Zen Texts?

Speaker

Fabian Trunz (Software Developer/Independent Scholar, Bern)

Date and Time

October 1, 2026, 2-15 pm - 3.45 pm

Venue

Gloriastrasse 12b, 8006 Zurich, Room GLT-A-03

Abstract

ReadZen is an open-source working environment for reading, searching, translating, citing, and researching a large corpus of premodern Chinese texts. It combines a broad CBETA layer (approx. 5,000 texts) with a curated OpenZen edition layer that traces individual passages back to their underlying textual witnesses and scans. After a brief introduction, participants can try out the freely accessible web version themselves (full-text search, parallel reading, passage-level references, dictionary, lineage graph); the more comprehensive desktop environment will be demonstrated. Finally, I will consider where such an environment can facilitate philological work and where its limitations lie.

Organization: Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies - Chinese Studies