The Study Of Dunhuang Golden Light Monastery During The Late Tang, Five Dynasties And The Early Song Dynasty

The Golden Light Monastery in Dun Huang region is an important Monastery during the late Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties and the Earl Song Dynasty. The Monastery recorded as The Golden Light Monastery, short for “Jin”. The name of this Monastery may possibly quote from “the Golden Light Sutra”. There are two theory regarding the Monastery location, in my opinion, the location near the Mogao Grottoes district is more reasonable. The first record of the Monastery appears at AD 788, after Tibetan Empire ruled the Dun Huang region. No any related records after the third year of the Northern Song Dynasty, AD 1019. There are some building recorded in some historical materials, like Monastery gate, campanile, audience hall, etc. these places gave local people much more convenience of daily life.After the Tibetan Empire and the Guiyi Circuit control, the Monastery persisted in integrating to secular society in his existing 200 years. Famous monk Suo Yibian, Elder Suo and D octor Suo Zhiyue are leader of the monk in this Monastery. They help people in trouble and made more reputation both in monk and laity. The total amount of the monk of the Monastery increased with the Monastery social impact. Some aristocratic families and the leader of the Guiyi Circuit had enthusiasms to Buddhism activities, like chanting sutras, turning scripture and writing sutras. The Monastery allow people from every class and families, taught them things both in society and Buddhism, disseminated culture and provided service to society. The Monastery gathered fortune through holding all kinds of social and religious activities. Collecting rents from slaves, high interest rate and religious income are the major income source. These activities provided foundation to the Guiyi Circuit leader, connecting Ethnic group and supporting civil society organizations.Through all the records in related literature, the Golden Light Monastery is the key point to integrate monks and priests in Dun Huang region. It play an important role in personnel appointment, funeral arrangement activities and festival celebrations. Furthermore, it helped to construct and maintain Mogao Grottoes, do the best for the glory of Dun Huang Buddhism.