The Tang Ying Feng Famen Temple Pagoda Relic

The activities of welcoming Buddha's Relics in Famen Temple in Tang dynasty started from Emperor Taizong's permission of teaching buddhist doctrines and ended in Emperor Yizong's time when the real buddha was welcomed, going through nearly the whole Tang dynasty's reign. It can be divided into three stages. In the first stage, Emperor Taizong permitted teaching the Buddhist doctrines. Emperor Gaozong welcomed the Buddha's bone for the first time and Emperor Wu Zetian welcomed the Buddha's Relics in her late reign. This period is the initiative stage for the activities of welcoming the Buddha's Relics in Famen Temple in Tang dynasty, which is connected with solidating the emperor's reign and whitewashing the peaceful state. In Zhenguan era, there is only the teaching of Buddhist doctrines but no welcoming activities. However, the former has promoted the publicity of Famen temple and the Buddha's Relics, providing a solid evidence for the welcoming of Buddha's Relics in Famen temple in Tang dynasty. As the earlist one among the activities of welcoming of Buddha's Relics in Tang dynasty, Emperor Gaozong's activity was the blending of occasionality and necessity. It was the result of the accumulation of real event and history, presenting a significant historical influence. The way of burying Buddha's Relics this time got rid of the traditional style of India, forming an unique burying system with Chinese features and greatly contributing to the localization of Buddhism in China. In the later years of Emperor Wu Zetian, the Buddha's Relics was welcomed for the purpose of rewarding the grace of Buddha. After this grand, pious and rich-offering welcoming of the Buddha's Relics, Emperor Xianqing's unveiling of the second stage of pious religious welcoming activities in Chinese religion history reached its climax, which is of unique features of that era. In the early time of Shangyuan period, Emperor Suzong welcomed the Buddha's Relics in the time of Anshi Rebellion, marking a turning point of the activities of welcoming Buddha's Relics in Tang dynasty. After that, the activities of welcoming the Buddha's Relics was closely connected with the situation of the state and the changes of social environment. It showed the tendency of protecting the state by the Buddhism of that time and together with the welcoming activities by Emperor Dezong in Zhenyuan era, they formed the second stage of welcoming activities of Buddha's Relics in Tang dynasty---the transational period. While the welcoming activities of Buddha's Relics by Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Yizong formed the third stage for the welcoming activities of Buddha's Relics in Famen temple in Tang dynasty. The differences between this stage and the former two stages were that there were strong signs of praying for blessing and longevity which occupied an important position in the activities of welcoming the Buddha's Relics. The welcoming activities in the later period of Yuanhe era, there appeared strong fever for religion, which could find expression from the worship of the Buddha's Relics in both the Emperor and the common people. A typical case showing the above point was that when Han Yu presented his objection to the welcoming the Buddha's Relics to the Emperor, he offensed the imperial edict and experienced a narrow escape of being put to death. Then the welcoming activities entered into the later stage. The welcoming of the Buddha's Relics in the14th year of Xiantong era by Emperor Yizong made a summary of the activities of welcoming the Buddha's Relics through the Tang dynasty. At that time, Tang dynasty was in decline and everything was in its worst state. From the fever for the Buddha's Relics in this welcoming activity held by both the Emperors, the nobles and the common people, the scenes of a perishing dynasty and the fact that Tang dynasty was facing the danger of collapse could be clearly reflected.In the activities of welcoming the Buddha's Belics, the exact time was unfixed and the scales were either big or small, without forming the so-called "holding it every thirty years" system of welcoming the Buddha's Relics. In reality, it was conducted depending on the development of the social situation and was a tool used by the rulers to maintain their reign.The activities of welcoming the Buddha's Relics in Tang dynasty was part of Tang dynasty's socail activities. And they were not constant, but closely related to the society and changed with the changes of the society. Through though activities, the obvious features of the era were embodied and they were of rich socail activities.The activities of welcoming the Buddha's Relics in Tang dynasty was closely related to the religions in Tang dynasty. They reflected the development of Buddhism in different periods. At the same time, they were also the miniature of the policies of Tang dynasty and revealed the dynamic relationship among the three schools of religions---Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, which were struggling with each other.