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ABSTRACT
This paper, starting from research on the system of ‘Official Monks Registration’ (Xi Zhang 系帐) and ‘Granting an Imperial Plaque or Quota’ (Chi E, 敕额) in the Tang and Song dynasties, discusses historical experiences of administrating sites for Buddhist activities. From the perspective of big data, I searched the database of ‘Essential Information of Sites for Religious Activities’ on the State Administration for Religious Affairs website to improve our knowledge of the distribution of Buddhist schools and of other basic information regarding Chinese Buddhism. I argue that ‘Board-Issuing for Buddhist Activity Sites’ (Guapai 挂牌) is a great move, which inherits successful experiences of administrating Buddhist affairs from past dynasties and reflects how society is governed by law and regulations. Moreover, it will probably help current Chinese Buddhism to overcome the predicament that Buddhist temples have been occupied by the tourism industry since the Cultural Revolution, which mingles religious places with tourism and causes many problems.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
2. Liu, Songdai fojiao zhengce lungao, 148.
3. Zhipan, Fozu tongji, T 49: 6.183 c9-13: 遣智邃奉書晉王, 上玉泉伽藍圖……王答曰: ‘奉旨於當陽造寺, 既事出神心, 理生望表, 即當具奏嘉號.’
4. Zhang, Han Tang fosi wenhua shi, 232.
5. Da Tang Liulian, 103: 凡道士、女道士、僧、尼之簿籍亦三年一造（其籍一本送祠部，一本送鴻臚，一本留於州縣。
6. Zanning, Song Gaoseng zhuan，T 50: 26.874: 太極元年五月十三日, 改元延和. 是歲, 刑部尚書王志愔為采訪使，至浚郊宣敕：‘應凡寺院無名額者, 並令毀撤. 所有銅鐵佛像, 收入近寺.’
7. Huang Fushi 皇甫湜, ‘Huguo si Weishi ji,’ Quan Tang Wen, juan 687: 十三載, 詔置護國寺於河陰, 御題雖掛，一簣未覆，蒼然古原，架構無時.
8. Qian, Taizong Huangdi shilu, 5.
9. Beijing shi dang’an guan, Beijing simiao lishi ziliao, 26.
10. Ibid., 426–670.
11. Ibid., 671–709.
12. http://www.sara.gov.cn/xwzx/xwjj/202780.htm. Accessed on May 29, 2017.