Conservative culture à la mode: contemporary Chinese Buddhism facing globalization

ABSTRACT

Following Chinese economic reform, Chinese Buddhism, having regained its energy, shook off the title of ‘superstition’ or ‘opium’ and became a new fashion for Chinese society overnight. Contemporary Chinese Buddhism (mainly referring to the Han Chinese Buddhism in Mainland China in this article), by means of modern communication technologies such as websites, Weibo and Wechat, keeps expanding its influence, gaining rich social resources and, on advocating ‘Humanistic Buddhism,’ engaging itself actively in various areas such as education, charity and health care, which allows it to take an active part in the development of the Chinese economy. However, in the meantime, the revival of Contemporary Chinese Buddhism also maintains and restores the traditional Buddhist regime and monastic life. Facing the tendency towards the commercialization and secularization of monastic communities, Chinese Buddhism always brings up the principle of ‘taking precepts as mentor.’ Even among the younger generation of monks, who aspire to the re-establishment of the monastic regime of the Ming and Qing, we still find a clear presence of cultural conservatism. These all pushed Contemporary Chinese Buddhism into a slightly unfavorable position compared to Christianity.

KEYWORDS:

• Chinese Buddhism
• conservative culture
• Benhuan
• Jinghui

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. In March 1982, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China published the document On the Basic Viewpoints and Policies Regarding Religious Issues during Our Country’s Socialist Period 關於我國社會主義時期宗教問題的基本觀點和基本政策, which in Chinese religious circles came to be referred to as ‘Document 19.‘ Since then, this programmatic document has defined the role of religion in Chinese society, having had a profound influence on the religious situation in Mainland China.

2. Zhao, “Zhongguo Fojiao Xiehui.”

3. He, “Zhonngguo Xiandai Fojiao.”

4. Gengyun, Anxiang Ji. There also exists an online version of the book titled Gengyun Xiansheng Wenji 耕雲先生文集 (The Collected Writings of Gengyun).

5. Liu, Ming Ren Xuezhe; He, “Shenghuo Chan.”

6. The works of Chan Master Jinghui are numerous. The most representative ones include Zhongguo Fojiao, Shenghuo Chan Yao, Chanzong Rumen.

7. Wen, “Qiandeng huzhao.”

8. Yin, “Benhuan zhanglao.”

9. Xuyun, “Shanghai Yufosi Chan,” 217.

10. Li, “The Practice of Buddhist Education.”