Praying for Power -- The Formation of Buddhist and Late Chinese Gentry Society

Author: (Canada) Bo Zhengmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: In 16th and 17th-century China, Buddhist followers and Confucian scholars were widely active in local temples and their charitable activities. As the number of scholars grew beyond the needs of the imperial bureaucracy, many were excluded from the traditional Confucian path to officialdom; however, evident charitable work could demonstrate the public status of elites outside the state's control. By actively participating in fundraising efforts for temple abbots, scholars' patronage deeply influenced the public institutions of Buddhism. This book first discusses the relationship between Buddhism and Ming Neo-Confucianism, the growth of Buddhist tourism, and the mechanisms and motivations of charitable donations, followed by an examination of three counties with distinct geographical locations and economic conditions. Based on ample historical records, the author provides an insightful analysis of the types of Buddhist donations and their social consequences at the time.