一、歷史背景及沿革

　　中華佛學研究所於1998年2月特別成立了佛學網路資料室 Buddhist Studies Information Network Center（簡稱為網資室）， 以因應網路的蓬勃發展、數位化文獻資料、出版品電子化、資訊共享等新世紀的趨勢，並逐步建立起較完整的「數位佛學參考資料庫」（Buddhist Digital Reference Databases）。

(一) 1998年2月15日協辦中華電子佛典協會（CBETA）

　　1998年2月15日由「北美印順導師基金會」與「中華佛學研究所」贊助成立「中華電子佛典協會」（Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association, 簡稱 CBETA），其目的為免費提供電子佛典資料庫以供各界作非營利性使用。此電子佛典資料庫第一期是以《大正新脩大藏經》（大藏出版株式會社c）第一卷至第八十五卷、《卍新纂續藏經》（株式會社國書刊行會 ©）第一卷至第九十卷為底本，並正式取得該底本版權者「大藏出版株式會社」及「株式會社國書刊行會」輸入與公開之授權。

(二) 1999年10月 與台大簽訂「佛學數位圖書館暨博物館」經營合約

　　在1999年10月，創辦人聖嚴法師與國立台灣大學陳維昭校長簽定「佛學數位圖書館暨博物館」經營合作契約，由本所網資室負責「佛學數位圖書館暨博物館」的資料蒐集、組織與數位化等工作。「佛學數位圖書館暨博物館」的前身為台大釋恆清教授於1994年所創建的「佛學網路資料庫」，該資料庫自1994年起至2003年已經完成的佛學書目資料約計10萬筆，建置中英文學術論文全文資料庫有4000篇左右，以及「佛學網路梵文、巴利文、藏文佛典語言教學」、「佛學網站資源」（Buddhist Internet Resource）、「佛教工具」等資料庫提供學界檢索應用。此項計畫目前由台大圖書館負責，正蓬勃發展中。這座擁有中、英、日書目超過十萬筆的網路圖書館，目前已是全世界最大的電子華文佛學資料庫，也是全球佛學研究者最重要的查詢路徑之一。


二、 2002年3月結合圖書館提昇為「圖書資訊館」

　　2001年中華佛學研究所從北投搬到金山鄉，圖書館歷經三次搬遷，同時結合資訊網路科技，將原先以紙本為主的傳統圖書館，結合網資室提昇為「圖書資訊館」，於2002年3月6日下午，在佛研所創辦人聖嚴師父、悟明長老及今能長老共同剪綵下，正式啟用。此舉整合了傳統紙本圖書與網路科技，將傳統書本圖書減少，增加資訊化圖書，除了功能完備外，更具前瞻性。期許圖書資訊館能成為全台灣，甚至是全球佛學資訊的重要寶庫，同時藉此為台灣佛學研究扎根。故圖書資訊館館藏除了包含當代漢文、梵文、巴利文寫就的五十一套不同文本的紙本藏經外，還闢設專區，收藏超過兩百五十多年歷史的緬甸寫本貝葉等珍貴文獻，並且在編目數位化後製成光碟，上網流通，方便國內外學者使用。可以說圖資館的最大特色，即為大量電子佛典與數位佛學文獻的製作，與強調網路資訊的整合運用，讓讀者可同時檢索圖書與數位資料，此為實體與虛擬的結合，也是傳統圖書館與電子圖書館的結合。如此符合現代化、國際觀的建館目標，獲得與會者的認同，香光尼眾佛學院自衍法師即指出，圖書資訊館的創設是「締造專業佛學圖書館的高峰」，也更向服務對象擴及全球而邁進。


聖嚴法師、悟明長老及今能長老共同剪綵。
Opening of the Library and Information Center.


　　除了推動館內典藏數位化，佛研所圖資館並且十分注重資訊經驗的分享、交流，不斷地將本身的電子化技術與心得向外推展，積極扮演著國內佛教資料數位化的「火車頭」。最具體的例子為與台灣大學共同合作的「佛學數位圖書館暨博物館」網站。這座擁有中、英、日書目超過十萬筆的網路圖書館，目前已是全世界最大的電子華文佛學資料庫，也是全球佛學研究者最重要的查詢路徑之一。另外，由法鼓文化所出版，收錄聖嚴師父著作等身一百冊的《法鼓全集》套書，也在圖資館的協助下，推出光碟版。


與大自然融成一片的圖書資訊館。
Campus in harmony with Nature.


　　圖資館的豐富資訊經驗得力於資訊部門「網資室」，從杜正民館長到「網資室」的工作人員，先後都曾參與過國內最大型電子佛典計畫─《大正藏》數位化。這項具開創性且高達百萬字的佛典電子化工作，讓所有的參與者皆獲得了十分寶貴的經驗。由於有了這些先前的經驗，使得圖資館從發展一開始就減少了很多摸索的路程，加快了發展腳步。

　　近年來，台灣與國際間佛教界、學界交流日益頻繁，為數不少的專家、學者前來台灣，就佛研所而言，每年都有來自國外的客座教授，而作為推動學術研究重要後盾的圖資館，一直深受關注，許多訪台的佛教專家學者將到館參訪列為重要的一站。

　　在眾所注目的關心中，圖資館結合的傳統經驗和與時代同步的科技，於法鼓山絕佳的天然景色中，描繪出一處最獨特的人文景緻，並且如同創辦人聖嚴師父所形容的「學生會一期一期畢業，圖書館卻永不畢業」，透過它，一代、一代的學子，將不斷地從中汲取佛法的浩瀚智慧法水。



佛學資訊學程。
Computer Lab.


三、 2003年佛學與資訊的整合成立「佛學資訊學程」

「佛學資訊學程」緣起與創設

　　邁入數位新時代，人文學科必須結合科技新知的研究方式，已是現代學術發展的重要一環，為了因應資訊時代需求，法鼓山中華佛學研究所緊跟世界學術發展潮流，近年來積極規畫開設「佛學資訊學程」以培養兼具佛學與資訊知能之人才，運用資訊科技的媒體與工具，以有效管理資料文獻，改進佛教的教學、研究、服務、行政等各個層面。

　　此舉首開國內外佛學教育風氣之先，更為佛教打造終身學習環境寫下嶄新的一頁，此將使學生的學習領域更為多元，以及推動嶄新的佛法傳播型式。

「佛學資訊學程」於2006年獲教育部准予於2006年獲教育部准予2006年獲教育部准予成立「佛教資訊組」

　　配合時代發展，為培養具備資訊素養與資訊能力的宗教師，故設立本組，培訓具數位化能力的宗教人才，參與各項電子佛典作業，以及建構佛教數位典藏。同時，培植具備規劃資訊發展胸襟的宗教人才，以作為資訊時代的弘法師，或佛教資訊學術研究人才。更重要的，為長期教育規劃培養具佛學資訊能力的師資，故設立本組，培訓可至各佛教單位擔任佛教資訊宗教師，或擔任各宗教學院相關資訊課程的教師，甚或在各大專院校教授相關課程。以達本校「培養理論與實踐並重、傳統與創新融合、具有國際宏觀視野的宗教師暨學術文化兩者兼具的人才」的宗旨。

四、結論

　　自1998年2月成立網資室至今，不斷致力各項e-Project研究，也將眼光放眼國際，充分應用科技整合的優勢，建立功能完備的佛學研究資料庫，圖書資訊館結合網資室、CBETA等單位，建構成教學、研究、行政三環結合的知識神經網路。未來更因應法鼓佛教學院e化需求，協助架設網站及其架構圖及相關e化作業。

佛學資料庫

【電子佛典】

中華電子佛典協會資料庫(CBETA）
網址：http://www.cbeta.org
線上索尋： http://dev.ddbc.edu.tw/concordance/
特色：《大正新脩大藏經》及《卍新纂續藏經》全文數位化；依循 XML（TEI5）之標準建立。

　　2009年發行CBETA電子佛典系列新版，除完整收錄原《大正藏》1至55冊外尚有卍新續藏經第1冊至第88冊、嘉興藏選輯、正史佛教資料類編、藏外佛教文獻1-3 輯也已全部完成。《卍續藏》襌宗部9冊也已全部完成。目前CBETA正積極與各界合作進行《大正藏》新式標點的工作，並整理尚未數位化之中文藏經，以陸續完成其餘散落中文經典之數位化工作為目標。

《法華經》多種語文版本資料庫
A Multi-lingual Database of the Lotus-Sutra
網址：http://sdp.chibs.edu.tw（IE only）

　　本計畫由故國際知名學者戶田宏文博士（於2003／08往生）及立正大學三友健教授（Dr. Kenyo Mitomo）與本所共同執行的「蔣經國學術基金會計畫」。本計畫擬以漢譯《法華經》為主軸，佐以其他各種版本的《法華經》寫本，進行蒐集、研究，並製作成數位資料。進而，建構梵文寫本與漢譯本及其它譯本的比對，並建立一大型的資料庫，藉由網路資源，廣為流傳於國際間，以作為現代研究教學之參考與應用。

《瑜伽師地論》數位資料庫
Yogācārabhūmi Database
網址：http://ybh.chibs.edu.tw(IE only)
http:// ybh.ddbc.edu.tw 2008 (IE6+ opera9+ safari Firefox2.0+)

　　本計畫（2000/08/01-2003/07/31）由國科會補助，惠敏法師主持，於中華佛學研究所進行三年的研究計劃。將《瑜伽師地論》及其綱要書、異譯本（三經二論）、諸注釋書、梵文原典、藏譯本等佛典電子化，並整合參考書目、解題及工具書等，設計使用介面及參照等功能。

The Program of Buddhist Studies and Information Technology Established in 2003

I. Origin and establishment of the Program of Buddhist Studies and Information Technology

As we enter the digital age, a significant aspect of the development of today’s academic world is the necessity to incorporate the latest technology in studies of humanities. In order to meet the demand of the information age, CHIBS has been working actively to establish a Program of Buddhist Studies and Information Technology to cultivate talented students equipped with knowledge of Buddhist studies and skills in information technology. Such trainees can make use of the media and technological tools to effectively manage information and documents so as to improve teaching, research, service, and administrative operations in Buddhist communities.

This initiative has created a new climate for Buddhist education at home and overseas. The creation of an environment for life-long study has also opened a new chapter for the history of Buddhism, enabling students’ field of study to be more diversified, and creating a brand-new way for spreading Buddhism.

II. The Program of Buddhist Studies and Information Technology sought approval from the Ministry of Education to establish the Office of Buddhism and Information Technology in 2006

The Office of Buddhism and Information Technology was set up to cultivate monastic teachers who are learned in information technology. The Office aims to train monastics skilled in digital technology to be able to participate in various digitization projects of Buddhist texts and help construct digital Buddhist archives. At the same time, it will foster religious talent capable of incorporating information technology to help spread the Dharma in the information age, as well as those who will devote themselves to academic research in Buddhist studies. More importantly, the Office provides training to teachers in both Buddhist studies and information technology on a long-term basis, so that they can become qualified teachers in Buddhist studies and information technology in various Buddhist organizations, or serve as teachers in universities and colleges. All in all, these endeavors are geared toward fulfilling CHIBS’ objective to “cultivate cultured and academically capable religious teachers with international perspectives who value both theory and practice while embracing both tradition and innovation.”



佛學與資訊的結合。
Learning Buddhist Studies through modern technology.

Conclusion

We have devoted ourselves to various e-Project researches since the establishment of the Information Network Center in February 1998. Globalization is also one of our objectives by means of integrating technology to build a Buddhist research database with comprehensive functions. The Library and Information Center will incorporate resources from the Information Network Center, CBETA, and other units to construct a network of knowledge that combine teaching, research, and administrative functions. As the need for digitization becomes critical in the future, we will also facilitate Dharma Drum Buddhist College with the construction of its website as well as other related digitization efforts.

Buddhist Studies Databases Established by CHIBS:

【Buddhist Electronic Text】

Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association (CBETA)
Website: http://www.cbeta.org
Concordance Tool: http://dev.ddbc.edu.tw/concordance/
Content: The Taishō and the Manji Shinsan Zokuzōkyō editions of the Buddhist Canon, including XML (TEI5) source files
Features: Taisho Tripitaka and Manji Shinsan Zokuzōkyō, with the entire text in digitized form and in accordance with the standard of XML (TEI5) source files.

The new edition of the Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association (CBETA) series published in 2009, besides containing volumes 1-55 and 85 of the Taisho Tripitaka, also includes 1-88 of the Manji Zokuzōkyō. Currently CBETA is actively working with other fields to complete the work of updating the new punctuation in the Taisho Tripitaka and to sort out the parts of the Chinese Tripitaka that have not yet been digitized, so as to complete the digitization of the remaining Chinese Buddhist scriptures not found in the Taisho Tripitaka and Manji Zokuzōkyō.

A Multi-lingual Database of the Lotus-Sutra
Website: http://sdp.chibs.edu.tw (IE only)
Content: Digital Comparative Edition of Manuscript Sources for the Lotus Sutra.

Sponsored by the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange, this is a project upon which the renowned scholars, Dr. Toda Hirofumi (who passed away in August 2003) and Professor Mitomo Kenyo of Rissho University collaborated with CHIBS. For this project, the Chinese Lotus Sutra is used as the main text to be compared with other versions of the Lotus Sutra manuscripts before digitization. Furthermore, a Sanskrit manuscript that corresponds with its Chinese counterpart as well as versions in other languages will be produced. A large database will be established online to be used for the reference and application of modern research and teaching.

Yogācārabhūmi Database
Website: http://ybh.chibs.edu.tw (IE only)
http://ybh.ddbc.edu.tw 2008 (IE6+ opera9+ safari Firefox2.0+)
Website (IE only): http://sdp.chibs.edu.tw

Subsidized by the National Science Council, this was a three-year research project (Aug/1/2000-July/31/2003) directed by Venerable Huimin conducted at the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies. The digitization of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra as well as its handbook, the various versions of its translation (three sutras and two sastras), the commentary texts, original Sanskrit text, Tibetan translation, etc. was completed as a result. In addition, it has also incorporated functions such as contrasting indexes to include bibliographies, bibliographical explanations, reference books, etc. on its interface.

【Buddhism in Taiwan】

Buddhist Temples in Taiwan
Website: http://dev.ddbc.edu.tw/taiwanbudgis/
Content: Database of Taiwanese Temples and Buddhist sites.

This project will integrate resources from the Digital Database of Taiwanese Buddhist texts, the Digital Museum of Taiwanese Buddhism, and other websites with the Geographical Information System (GIS)—with a special emphasis on the lineage system and distribution of Buddhist temples—to become a platform of geographical information of Buddhist temples in Taiwan, so as to facilitate studies of related topics on the history and geographical information of Buddhism in Taiwan.

The documents cited in the website for this project date from the 17th to the 21st century, to enable us to trace and study the development of Buddhism in Taiwan over several hundred years.


Buddhism in Taiwan of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and During the Japanese Occupation
Website: http://www.chibs.edu.tw/academic/ projects/taiwan/tb/index.htm
Introduction:

The Digital Database of Buddhist Texts in Taiwan project is based on the integration of modern technology and humanities with the hope of establishing a database of Buddhism in Taiwan covering the period from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present day. Although Buddhism has existed in Taiwan for over three hundred years and has always played an important role in Taiwan’s history and culture, a complete digital database of Taiwanese Buddhist studies has never been constructed either at home or abroad. Therefore, upon the completion of this project, it will not only be the sole digital database of Taiwanese Buddhist studies in the world, but will also be a portal website for domestic and overseas sinologists and Buddhist scholars.

Content: It contains data related to the Buddhism of Taiwan, such as the contents of periodicals, books, records of interviews, documents, photos, and pictures. These documents and data are constructed and managed according to three different time periods: 1. Buddhism in Taiwan during the Kingdom of Zheng of the Ming dynasty and during the Qing dynasty; 2. Buddhism in Taiwan during the Japanese occupation; and 3. Buddhism in Taiwan after the Second World War.

Taiwan Buddhist Digital Museum
Website: http://www.chibs.edu.tw/academic/ projects/taiwan/formosa/index.html
Introduction:

This project draws on CHIBS’ longstanding experience of database construction and archiving in conjunction with the incorporation of digital data of Buddhist texts to build a database pertaining to Buddhism in Taiwan over the past three hundred plus years. It will integrate Internet, multi-media, visual design, script design, content management, techniques of searching and retrieval, etc. to build a global Taiwan Buddhist Digital Museum that’s suitable for all ages. Furthermore, it will include an introduction to Taiwan’s Buddhist temples, cultural and educational organizations, and Buddhist figures, as well as the historical development of Taiwan’s culture and arts. Visitors can also take virtual tours to the monasteries for a realistic pilgrimage experience, thus enabling people around the world to learn about not only the history of Buddhism, but also the ever-vibrant Buddhist culture in Taiwan.





【Catalogs and Publications】

CHIBS Publications
Website: http://www.chibs.edu.tw/publication/c_index.htm
Content: Website of the Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal and publications of the Dharma Drum Buddhist College.
Features: Important journals and publications on contemporary Buddhist studies written mainly in Chinese.

The Hwa-Kang Buddhist Journal was first published in 1979, and became the Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal eight years later. The same year it organized an editing committee and invited 50 famous scholars from home and abroad to serve as readers. In addition, it also began to periodically publish on an annual basis significant academic research findings in Chinese, English, Japanese, etc. Papers from mainland China were encouraged and welcomed so as to promote cross-strait academic exchanges.

In light of the establishment of the Dharma Drum Buddhist College and to respond to the globalizing trend in the development of Buddhist studies, the Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal began publishing English academic papers on Buddhism starting from the 21st issue. Concurrently, the publication of the Dharma Drum Buddhist Journal was also launched, inheriting the tradition of the Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal and publishing academic papers on Buddhism written in Chinese, English, and Japanese.

Bibliotheca Sacra Birmanica
Website: http://projects.ddbc.edu.tw/palm-leaf/
Content: Catalog of and information on 245 palm-leaf manuscripts in our library collection.
Features: Image file of 245 palm-leaf manuscripts with annotation in the Pali and/or Burmese language, covering history, grammar, and other important subjects.
Introduction:

This Burmese manuscript collection, which has been jointly catalogued by the CHIBS and the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient, comprises 245 palm-leaf manuscripts. Though they are carved in the script of a Burmese dialect, Pali and Burmese are also used.

Some texts, such as the documents of the Sthaviravadin Tripitaka and their annotation and commentaries, as well as independent Buddhist works, are written only in the Pali language. Some texts are written in the Burmese language, while others are written partly in Pali. The word-for-word translation works of the Pali scriptures and annotations are written in both the Pali and Burmese languages. The earliest text of the collection dates back to 1724 CE, with the most recent from 1930 CE.

【Internet and Applications】

The World of Xuanzang and the Silk Road— A Digital Museum
Website: http://silkroad.chibs.edu.tw
Introduction:

This digital museum, The World of Xuanzang and the Silk Road, is supervised by the National Taiwan University Graduate Department of Philosophy and consists of the following three subsidiary projects: the research and organization of documents and texts, photos and images, and historical and geographical documents; research and development for interactive models of information visualization; and the systematic research and innovation of information database for the digital museum. The projects are undertaken respectively by the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies, the Arts and Technology Research Center of the Taipei National University of the Arts, and the Graduate Department of Information Engineering at the National Taiwan University.

The website contains The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, Monkey King, Journey of the Silk Road, cultural arts and artificats, an interactive learning area, document search tools, related websites, and an online dictionary.

【Multimedia Collections】

The Hopkins Tibetan Treasures Multimedia Research Archive
Website: http://haa.ddbc.edu.tw
Content: Recordings of teachings from the Dalai Lama and other eminent Lamas.
Features: One may listen to and download audio files of teachings from the Dalai Lama, search metadata of the installed audio files and access online teaching of the Tibetan language.
Introduction:

This project focuses on archiving the audio files donated to CHIBS by Professor Jeffrey Hopkins (Emeritus, University of Virginia). Its goal is to preserve treasured audio file archives through digitizing the analogical (magnetic) tapes provided by Professor Hopkins and other scholars of Tibetan Buddhism.

Subsidized by the National Science Council and directed by Prof. Magee, this research project which was first launched by CHIBS was handed down to Dharma Drum Buddhist College after one and a half years to continue the work of producing digitized files for research and teaching purposes.

Content: Authentic oral transmission of the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and virtually all research topics of Tibetan Buddhism such as Tibetan Buddhist thought, Tibetan history and medicine, and so forth.

【Commemorative Collections】

Digital archive collection to commemorate Venerable Master Dong Chu, Dharma heir of the Linji and Caodong lineages of the Chan School
Website: http://dongchu.ddbc.edu.tw
Features: Containing Master Dongchu’s collected works, chronicle of his life, chronological table, narrative sketch of his conduct and virtues, treasured image files, oral history, etc.
Introduction:

In 2006, Professor Tu, Director of the Library and Information Center, organized the digitization of the eight-volume “Collected Works of Master Dongchu.” After obtaining the consent and authorization from Venerable Guo Yi, editor-in-chief of Dharma Drum Corporation, the task of typing and collation was outsourced beginning in March of 2007. In December of the same year, in commemoration of Venerable Master Dongchu’s 100th birthday, the Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service was held at the DDM World Center for Buddhist Education with the hope that with the merit generated from the prayers of the faithful, the Buddhadharma would be spread far and wide through the concerted effort of the monastic and lay followers.

The special Digital Archive Collection of Venerable Master Dong Chu, a Dharma Heir of the Linji and Caodong Lineages of Chan School, was the collaborative work of CHIBS and Dharma Drum Buddhist College.

During Library Week in 2006, the Library and Information Center planned a special Documentary Exhibition in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary on the Passing of Venerable Master Dong Chu and the 50th Anniversary of the Promotion of the Tripitaka for Buddhism in Taiwan. Venerable Guo Jian, Deputy Director of the Library and Information Center, and the staff of the Library Office collected precious photos and manuscripts for the event, conducted interviews to gather multiple records of oral history, and combined them with Venerable Master Dong Chu’s works to be included in the CD.

The Collected Works of Venerable Master Sheng Yen
Website: http://www.chibs.edu.tw/mddc
Introduction:

In 1999, to celebrate Venerable Master Sheng Yen’s 70th birthday, Dharma Drum Corporation re-edited The Collected Works of Venerable Master Sheng Yen into 9 albums containing 70 volumes. The Collected Works of Venerable Master Sheng Yen has been widely collected by the general public, schools, and libraries worldwide, gaining wide readership.

In 2001, The Collected Works of Venerable Master Sheng Yen was digitized into compact discs, offering more search functions, making data research and collection a much easier task to save users considerable time and energy. We believe that even more scholars will benefit from the The Collected Works of Venerable Master Sheng Yen CD.