Building the Buddhist Revival: Reconstructing Monasteries in Modern China

Abstract

Between 1850 and 1966, tens of thousands of Buddhist sacred sites were destroyed in China, victims of targeted destruction, accidental damage, or simply neglect. Yet hundreds if not thousands of these sites were also reconstructed during this period, events that required charismatic leadership, the reconstitution of the religious community, extensive fundraising, investments of labor and materials, and the support of local elites. This book explores the history of Chinese Buddhist monastery reconstruction from the end of the Imperial period, through the Republic of China, and into the first seventeen years of the People’s Republic. For each time period, a general overview of reconstruction activity provides the context for more detailed study of a few focus sites. Over this century of history, the nature and significance of reconstructing Buddhist monasteries changes drastically, mirroring broader changes in Chinese society. Yet this book argues that change has always been in the nature of religious communities such as Buddhist monasteries, and that reconstruction, rather than a return to the past, represents innovative and adaptive change. In this way, it helps us understand the broader significance of the Buddhist “revival” in China during this era itself as a creative reconstruction of religion upon longstanding foundations.