THE BIBLIOMETRIC QUANTITATIVE STATISTICS AND ANALYSIS OF MADHYAMIKA IN MAHAYANA BUDDHISM THOUGHTS

Abstract

The Nāgārjuna’s Mādhyamika (Nagarjuna’s Middle Way) is one of the principal schools of Mahayana Buddhism in India. The foundational framework of Mādhyamaka theory was established by Nāgārjuna and his disciple Āryadeva during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. Revered as the "Second Buddha" in Indian Buddhist history, Nāgārjuna and the Mādhyamaka school flourished between 150 and 250 CE. As a philosophical system, Mādhyamaka represents a seminal anti-essentialist tradition. While it systematically denies the inherent and independent existence of self-nature (svabhāva), it acknowledges the conventional reality of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and cyclic existence (saṃsāra) – a nuanced perspective that often challenges conventional understanding.This study adopts a quantitative approach, utilizing bibliometric methods to conduct statistical and analytical research on articles related to 'Mahayana Madhyamaka' from the CNKI database. By analyzing term frequency and reviewing previous scholarly interpretations, the research explores the developmental trajectory of Madhyamaka thought, its impact on modern society, and its contemporary significance