Relationship of Buddhism with the Tang Government

Relationship of Buddhism with the Tang Government

Since the introduction of Buddhism into China, it was not well received by the population as its foreign beliefs clashed with pre-existent principals of Confucianism and Taoism. On top of that, it was alienated by the Confucianism-based government in the late Han Dynasty. All in all, Buddhism was not a common nor a popular religion throughout China at first. Nevertheless, this all changed after the rise of the Tang Dynasty. There is no doubt that Buddhism and the Tang administration under Wu’s reign formed a critical symbiotic relationship with one another. Buddhism played a pivotal role in justifying Empress Wu’s rule. She enthroned herself as the monarch of China, an extraordinarily difficult achievement for a woman in a male-dominant society, by associating herself with Buddhism: proclaiming herself as the Maitreya and that she will bring an utopian era for the Chinese. (Smarr, 17 Feb. 2012) At the same time, Buddhism benefitted handsomely from government support, as monasteries are exempted from tax and that they are financially supported by the state, as seen in A Pilgrim’s Visit to the Five Terraces Mountains, which ultimately resulted in the substantial growth in attraction of Buddhist converts and Buddhism itself. Wu’s extensive support of the religion with ostentatious gifts and donations contributed to the rapid proliferation of Buddhism. Evidently, the mutually benefitting relationship between Buddhism and the state are crucial to each other’s survival during Wu’s sovereignty, but to what extent did her financial support (donations to monasteries) of Buddhism bettered the government overall?

The close connection between government and religion is not a new concept...

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...ore than communities occupied for monks and a stop for merchants, “monasteries [are now] engaged in banking or money-lending activities, and many others maintained schools that provided a basic education for local populations” (T.E. 295). With the favor of the people and in combination with Wu and her state’s endorsement, Buddhism and monasteries flourished and becomes an integral part of the Chinese culture by providing education and economic service to return the favor, thus strengthening the symbiotic role between government and religion. Monasteries’ “engage[ment] in banking [and] money-lending activities” is a sign that monasteries no longer just serve a monotonous purpose, but that it now plays an integrated role with the Chinese culture and economy as it is a pivotal point in gradual building the robust Chinese economy in the mutually benefitting relationship.