‘佛经’ literally means ‘Buddha’s scriptures’ — ‘佛’ (fó) refers to the Buddha or Buddhism, and ‘经’ (jīng) means ‘scripture,’ ‘classic,’ or ‘canonical text.’ Together, the term denotes the sacred texts of Buddhism, originally composed in Sanskrit, Pāli, or Tibetan, and later translated into Chinese over many centuries. These texts include sutras (discourses attributed to the Buddha), vinaya (monastic rules), and śāstras (commentaries).

佛经 are central to Buddhist practice, study, and ritual. Monks and nuns chant them daily; lay practitioners may read or recite them for merit, reflection, or spiritual cultivation. Famous examples include the Heart Sutra (《心经》) and the Diamond Sutra (《金刚经》). While historically written on bamboo slips or printed woodblocks, modern editions appear in books, apps, and online databases — but the reverence for their content remains unchanged.