Three Teachings Studies: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism (TTS) provides these Frequently Asked Questions to assist prospective and contributing authors with manuscript preparation, submission requirements, editorial evaluation, publication charges, and open-access publication. The information below summarizes the journal's principal author policies. Authors should also consult the relevant policy pages for detailed requirements and use the journal's official online submission system for all formal manuscript submissions and revisions.

A. Journal Scope and Submission Categories

What kinds of research does TTS publish?

TTS publishes original scholarly research on Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, including their philosophical foundations, textual traditions, historical development, religious institutions, rituals, music, ethical practices, intellectual lineages, and cultural interactions. The journal welcomes historical, philosophical, philological, comparative, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Research must demonstrate a meaningful contribution to the journal's academic scope.

Must my manuscript discuss all three traditions?

No. Authors may focus on Confucianism, Daoism, or Buddhism independently. Comparative studies involving two or more traditions are also welcome, but comparison is not a mandatory requirement. Manuscripts should clearly establish their relevance to the journal's scope and demonstrate appropriate scholarly engagement with their chosen subject.

What manuscript categories are accepted?

TTS accepts seven principal categories of scholarly contributions:

• Research Articles: 6,000–10,000 words.
• Review Articles: Up to 8,000 words.
• Book Reviews: 1,000–2,000 words.
• Translation and Annotation: Flexible length.
• Forum Contributions: 2,000–5,000 words.
• Documents and Textual Notes: Flexible length.
• Lectures: Invited or editorially curated contributions.

Requirements may vary according to the contribution type. Authors should select the category most appropriate to their manuscript and consult the Submission Guidelines for further information.

Does TTS accept interdisciplinary or contemporary research?

Yes. The journal welcomes interdisciplinary scholarship involving religious studies, philosophy, history, literature, anthropology, sociology, musicology, art history, and related fields. Contemporary research is appropriate when it demonstrates a clear scholarly relationship to Confucian, Daoist, or Buddhist traditions, their historical development, or their intellectual and cultural significance.

Is it necessary to submit to one of the five Research Areas?

No. The five Research Areas provide thematic orientations rather than exclusive eligibility categories. Authors may submit research relevant to the journal's broader aims and scope even when the manuscript does not fit neatly into a single research area. The editorial office may determine the most appropriate section or classification during manuscript processing.

B. Languages and Manuscript Preparation

What languages does the journal accept?

TTS accepts manuscripts in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Manuscripts written in languages other than English must include an English title and abstract. The journal encourages accurate use of original-language sources and welcomes multilingual scholarship grounded in appropriate disciplinary standards.

Is there a mandatory manuscript template?

No. TTS follows a flexible manuscript formatting policy. Authors are not required to use a prescribed template, font, font size, line spacing, margin configuration, or standardized section layout. Manuscripts must nevertheless be readable, consistently organized, and suitable for academic evaluation. Mandatory citation and documentation requirements continue to apply.

What file format should I use?

The main manuscript should be submitted as an editable Microsoft Word document in .doc or .docx format. Authors should ensure that the file opens correctly and that footnotes, endnotes, special characters, tables, and other scholarly materials remain readable. Additional supporting files may be requested where appropriate.

Which citation style is required?

All manuscripts must use The Chicago Manual of Style, Notes and Bibliography system. Chicago Author–Date, APA, MLA, Harvard, and other citation systems are not accepted as alternatives. Authors must ensure that citations, explanatory notes, and bibliographic references are accurate, complete, and consistent.

Should I use footnotes or endnotes?

Footnotes are ordinarily preferred for Research Articles, Review Articles, and general scholarly contributions. Endnotes may be used for Translation and Annotation and Documents and Textual Notes where appropriate to extensive textual commentary or documentary annotations. Both forms must comply with Chicago Notes and Bibliography conventions.

How long should the abstract be, and how many keywords are required?

General scholarly contributions should include an English abstract of no more than 300 words. For Book Reviews and Forum Contributions, an English abstract, where required, must not exceed 150 words. Contributions requiring keywords should include 5–7 keywords that accurately describe the research. Category-specific requirements may apply.

Do I need to use romanization for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese texts?

Romanization is not universally required. Authors may preserve original scripts where they are appropriate for accurate textual identification and scholarly discussion. When romanization is necessary for clarity, source identification, or analysis, it should follow a recognized and consistently applied system.

Can I include classical texts, translations, images, or musical examples?

Yes. TTS welcomes scholarly contributions using classical texts, canonical materials, translations, archival records, manuscript images, figures, tables, musical notation, and related research materials. Authors must identify their sources accurately, distinguish original work from borrowed material, and obtain necessary permissions for third-party content. Special source conventions may be incorporated into Chicago Notes and Bibliography documentation where appropriate.

Is an author biography required?

Authors should prepare a brief academic biography of approximately 100–150 words. It may include institutional affiliation, academic background, and research interests. For manuscripts undergoing double-blind peer review, identifying information must be provided separately from the anonymized review manuscript.

C. Originality, Ethics, and Prior Dissemination

Does TTS require a plagiarism or similarity check before submission?

Yes. Authors are required to conduct a preliminary similarity check before submission. The total similarity index must be below 15%, excluding references and bibliography. Authors should investigate matched passages and correct inappropriate overlap or incomplete attribution before submitting their work.

The editorial office conducts randomized similarity spot checks and targeted verification. A similarity score does not independently establish plagiarism or guarantee originality. Properly attributed classical passages, quotations, and other legitimate textual matches are evaluated in their scholarly context.

Must I upload a similarity report with my manuscript?

Authors must complete the preliminary similarity check, but a separate similarity report is not routinely required as a standard submission file. The editorial office may request a report or relevant clarification if concerns arise during manuscript evaluation. Authors should retain their screening results for this purpose.

Can I submit a manuscript that has appeared as a thesis, preprint, or conference paper?

Prior dissemination does not necessarily make a manuscript ineligible. Authors must disclose relevant theses, dissertations, preprints, conference versions, or related publications where they may affect originality, publication rights, or the assessment of the submission. The editorial office will consider the nature of the earlier material, the extent of overlap, and the manuscript's new scholarly contribution.

Can I submit the same manuscript to another journal while it is under review at TTS?

No. Simultaneous submission of substantially the same manuscript to multiple journals or publishers is not permitted. Authors must withdraw a manuscript from consideration at TTS before submitting it elsewhere, or otherwise resolve the submission status in accordance with the relevant publication policies.

May I use artificial intelligence tools when preparing a manuscript?

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their manuscripts, including material produced with AI assistance. Material AI-assisted contributions to scholarly content should be disclosed in accordance with the journal's ethics requirements. Authors must independently verify AI-assisted quotations, translations, interpretations, references, and factual claims. AI systems must not be presented as accountable scholarly authors.

Are research ethics approval and informed consent always required?

Requirements depend on the nature of the research and the applicable institutional and legal framework. Studies involving interviews, fieldwork, or living participants must comply with relevant research ethics obligations, including informed consent and privacy safeguards where applicable. Authors should not assume that every historical, textual, or archival study requires human-participant ethics approval.

D. Submission System and Peer Review

How do I submit my manuscript?

All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal's official online submission system. Authors should register an account or log in to an existing account, initiate a new submission, select the appropriate article category, upload the manuscript, enter the required metadata, complete the applicable declarations, and confirm the submission.

New Author Registration: Create an Author Account

Existing Author Login: Access the Journal's Online Submission System

Can I submit a manuscript by email?

No. Formal manuscripts and revised files must be submitted through the journal's online submission system. The editorial email address is intended for academic inquiries, technical assistance, policy clarification, and other administrative correspondence. Authors should not email manuscript attachments as an alternative to the standard submission process.

Does TTS use double-blind peer review?

Yes. Research Articles ordinarily undergo double-blind peer review by at least two independent external reviewers. Author and reviewer identities are concealed from one another. Other contribution types may undergo editorial assessment or external specialist review according to their content and scholarly requirements.

How should I anonymize my manuscript?

Research Articles prepared for double-blind review should exclude author names, affiliations, identifying acknowledgments, and other unnecessary information revealing authorship. Authors should also check document properties, comments, and tracked changes. Relevant self-citations should remain accurate and should not be deleted merely to conceal previous scholarship. Identifying details should be supplied separately through the journal's submission system or designated supporting materials.

How long does peer review take?

Initial editorial screening ordinarily takes approximately 1–2 weeks. The journal aims to complete first-round peer review of Research Articles within approximately 8–12 weeks from initial submission, including initial screening. Manuscripts requiring additional reviewers or specialist evaluation may take 2–4 months or longer. These figures are indicative targets, not guaranteed deadlines.

What editorial decisions can I receive?

Depending on the assessment, the journal may accept a manuscript, request minor or major revisions, seek additional evaluation, reject the submission, or invite a substantially revised manuscript for renewed consideration. Reviewer recommendations inform editorial decisions but do not determine them automatically. A revision request does not guarantee acceptance.

How do I submit a revised manuscript?

Authors should upload the revised manuscript through the appropriate revision function associated with their existing submission. Where requested, a point-by-point response should explain how editorial and reviewer comments have been addressed. Revised manuscripts may undergo further editorial assessment or another round of specialist review.

How can I check my manuscript's progress?

Authors can log in to the journal's online submission system to review available submission information, editorial correspondence, and revision requests. Authors should also monitor the email address associated with their account. If a submission remains at the same stage substantially longer than the indicative timeframe, the corresponding author may contact the editorial office for clarification.

E. Publication Charges and Financial Assistance

Is there a submission fee or peer review fee?

No. TTS does not charge manuscript submission fees or peer review fees. Authors may submit manuscripts and participate in editorial evaluation without making an advance payment.

What is the Article Processing Charge?

The standard Article Processing Charge (APC) for an accepted Research Article is USD 350. The charge is assessed only after the manuscript has been formally accepted. Payment does not influence editorial decisions or guarantee publication before completion of the required production and administrative procedures.

Which contributions are exempt from the APC?

Book Reviews and Forum Contributions are exempt from the standard APC. Certain invited contributions may also qualify for exemption. Authors submitting Review Articles, Translation and Annotation, Documents and Textual Notes, Lectures, or other specialized contributions should confirm the applicable arrangements with the editorial office where necessary.

Can I request an APC waiver or reduction?

Yes. Authors without adequate publication funding, early-career researchers, and authors experiencing significant financial constraints may request a partial or full waiver. Requests should be submitted after formal acceptance and before payment. Applications are considered individually and approval is not automatic.

Will my financial circumstances affect editorial acceptance?

No. Scholarly evaluation and editorial decisions are independent of APC payments, waiver applications, and authors' financial circumstances. Manuscripts are evaluated according to academic quality, originality, relevance, research integrity, and other applicable editorial criteria.

F. Online Publication, Copyright, and Access

How long does publication take after formal acceptance?

Following formal acceptance, copyediting, typesetting, author proof review, and preparation for online publication ordinarily take approximately 3–5 weeks in total. This estimate includes the normal production period and does not imply an additional three-to-five-week waiting period for online publication. Delays may occur when extensive corrections, permissions, or administrative matters remain unresolved.

Is TTS an annual journal, and when are articles published?

TTS is an annual, online-only journal with rolling online publication. Accepted articles may be released individually as they complete production. The annual volume is finalized on December 30. Authors and readers do not need to wait until that date to access articles already published online.

Is there a deadline for submitting to the current year's volume?

Manuscripts may be submitted throughout the year. Authors seeking consideration for the current year's annual volume are encouraged to submit before September 1. This is an advisory planning date, not a guarantee of acceptance or publication within that calendar year. Manuscripts requiring additional review or production may be scheduled for the following annual cycle.

Is TTS fully open access?

Yes. Published scholarly articles are made available online without subscription charges, reader paywalls, or embargo periods. The journal supports immediate access to academic research.

Who retains copyright, and which license applies?

Authors retain copyright in their original scholarly contributions and grant the journal the non-exclusive rights necessary for publication, dissemination, and preservation. Published scholarly articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits sharing, adaptation, and commercial or noncommercial reuse subject to the license conditions. Third-party materials may be subject to separate restrictions.

Can I share or archive my published article?

Yes. Authors may share and archive the final published version immediately, subject to proper attribution, the article's applicable license, and any separate restrictions concerning third-party materials. Where relevant, authors should include the article's official citation and DOI.

Does publication guarantee a DOI, database indexing, or citations?

The journal prepares article-level publication metadata and DOI information where applicable. Authors should consult the final publication record for the registered identifier. Publication or payment of an APC does not guarantee inclusion in any particular indexing database, citation performance, or academic impact. Such outcomes depend on independent systems and the subsequent use of the published research.

What should I do if I discover an error after publication?

Authors should contact the editorial office promptly and provide the article details, a description of the error, and any supporting documentation. The journal will evaluate whether a correction, clarification, expression of concern, retraction, or another appropriate action is warranted. Not every error requires retraction; the response depends on the nature and seriousness of the issue.

G. Further Guidance and Editorial Contact

Where can I find the journal's complete author policies?

Authors may consult the following policy pages for more detailed information:

• Aims & Scope — Research focus and scholarly eligibility.
• Submission Guidelines — Manuscript categories and submission requirements.
• Manuscript Formatting Guidelines — File preparation, multilingual texts, and Chicago citation requirements.
• Publication Process & Timeline — Editorial stages, review targets, and annual publication arrangements.
• Peer Review Policy — Review procedures, editorial decisions, and confidentiality.
• Plagiarism & Similarity Screening — Originality checks and misconduct assessment.
• Author Ethical Responsibilities — Authorship, research integrity, disclosure, and publication ethics.
• Article Processing Charges — Applicable fees, exemptions, and waiver requests.
• Copyright & Licensing — Author rights, publication rights, and reuse.
• Open Access Policy — Public access and licensing arrangements.

Who should I contact if my question is not answered here?

Authors may contact the editorial office for questions concerning manuscript suitability, submission requirements, publication policies, fee waivers, editorial progress, or technical difficulties with the journal's online submission system.

Three Teachings Studies Editorial Office
Publisher: Panorama Scholarly Group (PSG)
Email: [email protected]
Author Registration: Create an Author Account
Online Submission System: Access the Submission System

Please note: Editorial email is intended for questions, clarification, and administrative assistance. Formal manuscripts, revised files, and related submission materials must be submitted through the journal's official online submission system.