Taixu and Modern Chinese Zen Buddhism

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the life and influence of the Buddhist activist monk, Taixu. It describes how he was profoundly affected by China's experience of World War I and the suffering of ordinary Chinese and what he did to improve the situation. In particular, the paper discusses how Taixu improved Buddhism, in order to improve the life of ordinary people in China.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Improving Buddhism, Improving China
Concluding Remarks

From the Paper:

"What was observed as a New Buddhist Movement in China after the Communist Revolution of 1949 was still remarked upon by observers and associated with Taixu after his death. (See Callahan 1952) Taixu had hoped for a Buddhism that was national, transnational, public and populist, as needed well educated and otherwise prepared monks and outlets suiting lay people who wanted to create an improved society. Taixu could not imagine what lay in store for the Chinese in the decades after his death. In 1950, his disciplines saw his writings published, and then all things of the kind were steadily discouraged. In 1989, there was renewed interest in Taixu and his followers, in a rather glorified rendition of Taixu, despite his failure to ever gain leadership of the Chinese Buddhist Association. The regime backed several volumes of his works that were reprinted in various languages, as though the People's Republic of China had never opposed its spiritual authorities, the competing network in the Buddhist establishment."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Callahan, Paul E. "T'ai-hsu and the New Buddhist Movement." Harvard University Papers on China. 6. (1952): 149-188.
• Hamilton, Clarence H. "An Hour with T'ai-hsu, Master of the Law." The Open Court. 42. (1928): 162-169.
• Hodous, Lewis. "The Buddhist Outlook in China." Chinese Student's Monthly. 21. (1926): 9-11.
• Long Darui. "An Interfaith Dialogue between the Chinese Buddhist Leader Taixu and Christians." Buddhist-Christian Studies. 20. (2000): 167-189.
• Pittman, D. A. Towards a Modern Chinese Buddhism - Taixu's Reforms. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2001.

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