Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 111-133.

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Buddhism in the Shang Chuan Nan Region and Local Society in the Ming Dynasty

CHEN Zhigang   

  1. History and Culture College of Lanzhou University, the Belt and Road Research Centre of Lanzhou University
  • Online:2018-03-20 Published:2018-03-20
  • Supported by:

    This article is supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (17LZUJBWZX005, 16LZUJBWZY047).

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Abstract:

In the Ming dynasty the Shang Chuan Nan region close to the Tibet was the only road by which foreign envoys could carry out trade and bring tributes. Lizhou, Yazhou and Diaomen were the three important tea and horse trading sites, and the tributary trade practiced there stimulated the long-distance tea trade along the upper and middle Yangtze River. During the Longqing period, the trade volume of tea reached 3 million jin per annum from 1567 to 1572, and a tributary route took shape called the "Yangtze-Grand Canal". The collaborative relationship between the Tibetan and the Han ethnicities became intimate. Tibetan Buddhism and Han Buddhism could be practiced without conflict, Han and Tibetan society and the Chinese society were well integrated. The Buddhist monks and the Confucian scholars reconciled the Confucian ideological principles of "Shan" (goodness) and "Yi" (righteousness). The Buddhism temple offered birthday congratulations to the emperor, prayed for longevity for the emperor, prayed for the peace and stability of the state, prayed for good weather for the crops, and so on. Buddhists invited the Confucian scholars to inscribe the record of events on temple tablets, while Confucian scholars retreated within the beautiful scenery of Buddhist temples to prepare for the imperial examination. Buddhist temples also cooperated with the needs of local governments, and local officials would often retreat to Buddhist temples in times of drought to pray for rain. Buddhism and Confucianism had broad contact with society, causing Confucian scholars to come into close contact with Buddhist beliefs and lifestyle. The local government exercised the imperial court's ceremonies and held royal celebrations in Buddhist temples. Because Buddhist rites could help villagers deal with the problem of death, the descendants of layman in order to fulfill their filial piety asked Buddhist yogi to release their ancestors from the cycle of samsara. Local families relied on Buddhist rites to sacrifice their ancestors and hold together the family clan. By means of donating tea plantations and land to Buddhist temples, the big local families set up local positions of authority. Buddhism cultivated a social atmosphere which commended charitable deeds and developed a united spirit, where local groups enjoyed authority, so that the locals of the Shang Chuan Nan region could defend themselves during a period of enormous turbulence in the late Ming. Buddhism was an important contributor to social stabilization and continuity during the late Ming's Dynasty's period of unrest.

Key words: Buddhism, family, social history of region, Sichuan, Ming dynasty