A Study On The Clans Buddhism Prohibition During The Ming-Qing Dynasty

Starting from the viewpoint of cultural history, this study, firstly analyzes on the special phenomenon of Buddhism prohibition within many clans during the Ming and Qing dynasties in china, then explores into the social and cultural causes leading to this phenomenon, and lastly accounts for cultural significance of the result of Buddhist prohibitions within many clans.Since being introduced into china in the Donghan dynasty, Buddhism has never stopped its process of development in china and came to its prosperity in the Ming and Qing dynasties, when it has taken roots deeply into the low class in the society. Yet many clans, which were prevalent social unit in the same period in China, delivered the different voices, presented by many of them who claimed the prohibition of Buddhism in their clans regulations. Their prohibitions included the three categories: firstly, they forbade their succeeding generations to be Buddhist monk or nun; secondly, members within their clans were not allowed to participate in any Buddhist activities; thirdly, women were strictly prohibited to believe in Buddhism.The causes resulting in many clans' Buddhism prohibition are various. Four among them are predominant: the effects from Confucianism, Confucian school of idealist philosophy of the Song and Ming dynasties, Buddhist policies of the government, and the immoral conducts of some Buddhist members. In addition, the important roles of country squires played in some clan's Buddhist prohibition can by no means be ignored.However, the Buddhist prohibition within a lot of clans had little impacts upon the spread and development of Buddhism in China. The great efforts and little impacts of their prohibitions reflect the compromised interaction between "Li" (the Confucian or feudal ethical code) and "Su" (custom) of cultural tradition of China.