An Analysis Of The Creation Background Of Baizhang's Commandments

Baizhang's Commandments is created by Huaihai in the Tang Dynasty .It was followed by the most of the Buddihist temple in China. It also has amended by many Chinese Governments. It has become the basic organization and management system in Chinese temple. By studying of historical data, this paper reveals the background of self-government of Chinese Samgha, the background of government management , economic background and religious background of creation of Baizhang's Commandments.In Wei and Jin dynasties, because of the expansion of the Sangha scale, the management and construction of Samgha need to be addressed. At that time, the precepts and rules of Buddhism had not introduces into China completely. China and India have a lot of difference .Chinese monks begin self-innovation and attempt in the establishment of system at the basic precepts. The experience of Daoan, Huiyuan, Zhidu, Huiguan, Huiguang, Fachao and Liangwudi in establishment of Sangha system had accumulated experience for creation of Baizhang's Commandments, as well as set the self-government tone of Baizhang's Commandments.The Chinese government began to select some monks and nuns as administrators of the Sangha to assist in the management of the Buddhist affairs from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. China has gradually established the system of administrator of the Sangha.In Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Government began to restrict the number of monks and control the size of the expansion of Buddhism Sangha. The management of Sangha had gradually been resumed by the Government. The central institution of monk officials became lax. At the same time, grass-roots organizations of Buddhism has continue to mature, which prepare for the creation of Baizhang's Commandments. The emergence of Baizhang's Commandments meets the require of escape governments'control.The Puqing of Baizhang's Commandments, which requests all the monks to participate in productive work, provide the independent and stable economic source. Chinese Buddhism had rely on Buddhists'donations and government support as the main source of income since the before Huaihai. The economic foundation of Sangha is weak and dependent. But Baizhang's Commandments had changed the situation, which is particularly important to the development of Zen Buddhism as well as Buddhism.In Huaihai's period, the most of monks of Zen Buddhism live in Temple of Ris Buddhism Which is conflict to the meditation. In China, Mahayana Buddhism has long been widely accepted, but Sangha generally adopted Hinayana precepts. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Chinese Buddhism is so prosperity that such contradictions are becoming increasingly acute. The main way of meditation is travel-learning,living in hole and so on .The governments make it resident in Temple in order to management. Zen and Ris Buddhism have a lot of difference in concept of precepts and the way of meditation. Mahayana's precept has covered too wide range to meet the needs of Sangha management. In this context, Zen Master, Huaihai created Baizhang's Commandments in order to guide the monks meditation and carry forward the idea of Zen.