On The Integration Of Sui And Tang Dynasties Buddhism And Secular Culture

In Sui and Tang dynasties, Chinese Buddhism entered prosperous period andgradually completed the Buddhism Sinicization. Shandong is typical as an importantregion of the development of Buddhism in Sui and Tang Dynasties. Based on Shandongprovince, the thesis is going to focus on the interaction of original Buddhistculture and secular Chinese culture，and will research how does Buddhism have animpact on traditional Chinese ideological culture, politics and economy, and dailylife. In the same time, the thesis is going to reflect a process of BuddhismSinicization.The main part of the paper discusses from four aspects of ideological culture,politics and economy, social life and folk festivals, and researches Jinan Lingyantemple separately. The first part discusses from three angles, which Buddhism hasan effect on Chinese people and Chinese culture, and which Chinese culture has aneffect on Buddhism. The second part discusses the performance of Buddhist secularpolitics and economy. The third part introduces knowledge structure, diet andfuneral customs, and charitable activities. By starting from the Buddhist factorsof folk festival, the fourth part proves the interaction of Buddhist culture andsecular Chinese culture. This point is confirmed by the truth, which some newBuddhist festivals are turned into popular festivals of all the people, whichtraditional festivals absorbing Buddhist factors become more prosperous, and whichtraditional festivals become the biggest festival of Buddhists and Non-Buddhists.This thesis studies Jinan Lingyan temple as a center. The thesis proves theBuddhism and secular Chinese culture fusion from three aspects of scholars, thepeople and Buddhists. And then this thesis analyzes inscriptions and joss in templesand the surrounding areas. The thesis generalizes the time and space evolution ofBuddhist faith at that time and place, and the distribution of different denominationfaith of Buddhist. Those show the characteristics of Buddhism in Shandong Sui andTang dynasties.Finally, the thesis summarizes five-features of Buddhism in Shandong Sui andTang dynasties. Those are Buddhism in a subordinate position, development with the regime’s power, the free way of Buddhist beliefs, Buddhist beliefs of patriarchalclan system, and female Buddhists becoming new force.