Research On Buddhist Dangui’s Social Intercourse

Buddhist Dangui, formerly known as Jin Bao, was a famous monk and adherent inLingnan district in the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasty. As a sociable and prolificwriter, he is an important part of the adherent literature in that time. Because of Dangui’shardworking and social acts with bureaucrats of Qing Dynasty to build Biechuan Templeas a monk, some scholars disproved him as an opportunist. Based on the formerresearches in this field, this thesis takes his social intercourse as a starting point to studythe social intercourse between Dangui and his friends by analyzing and researchingdocuments.This thesis contains three parts:Chapter one Dangui’s social intercourse with schlors. Taking Fang Yizhi, LiaoYan, and Qu Shisi as research subjects. Dangui and Fang Yizhi were Jinshi of the sameyear. They had similar fates: both of them used to be government officials and then theybecame monks. Dangui spoke highly of Fang Yizhi, while the posterity had differentattitudes towards them. Dangui was not so familiar with Liao Yan. They oftencorresponded with each other but seldom met. Dangui gave affirmation to Liao Yan’stalent in literature and made it known to the public. Liao Yan was very grateful to himbecause he was a genius writer unrecognized. Dangui and Gao Yousi’s father were Jinshiof the same year. So Dangui cared for Gao Yousi and commended him for his loyalty andfilial piety.Chapter two Dangui’s social intercourse with bureaucrats. This chapter containstwo sections. Section one Dangui’s social intercourse with his colleagues of MingDynasty e.g. Qu Shisi and Wang Fuzhi. Dangui and Qu Shisi were both the mosttrustworthy ministers in the Nanming Dynasty. They often shared the same politicalviews. Qu Shisi helped Dangui many times when he was in difficulties. Qu Shisi’sloyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness made himself second to none in Dangui’smind. Dangui and Wang Fuzhi were colleagues in the Ming Dynasty. At that time, WangFuzhi appreciated Dangui’s probity and talent. But after Dangui became a monk, WangFuzhi disproved his sociable acts. Section two Dangui’s social intercourse withbureaucrats of Qing Dynasty, e.g. Shang Kexi, Jin Guang and Lu Shikai. As a famous monk in Lingnan district, it seems to Dangui that it was ineluctable to have socialintercourse with Shang Kexi, who was enthusiastic about Buddhist activities and guardedGuangdong at that time. Dangui modified Shang Kexi’s geology Yuan Gong Chui Fan,but he kept Shang Kexi at a distance deliberately. Dangui heard about Shang Kexi’s staffJin Guang very early and they felt like old friends at their first meeting. Jin Guang was agenerous and uninhibited gentleman in Dangui’s mind. Dangui trusted Jin Guangdeeply.Lu Shikai and Dangui were very intimate. Lu Shikai supported Dangui from thevery beginning of building the Biechuan Temple. They had different but complementarycharacters. Even in the last time of his life, Dangui lived in Lu Shikai’s villa. It’s fair tosay Lu Shikai is the best friend of Dangui.Chapter three Dangui’s social intercourse with monks. Taking Tianran Monk andAzi as research subjects. Tianran Monk was a great mentor to Dangui. Without hisindoctrinating, Dangui would not gain an insight into Buddhism. Dangui was anexcellent student to Tianran Monk. Due to his devotion, Biechuan Temple wasestablished and finally became a magnificent temple in Lingnan district.Azi was nearly20years younger than Shi Dangui, but Dangui respected this senior fellow apprentice. Asabbots, they were fellow suffers.These ten people were the most intimate friends of Dangui. By this thesis it is clearthat Dangui’s ideology changed from Confucianism to Buddhism after he became amonk, and Dangui attached a great deal of value to intelligence and character of hisfriends. Therefore it is unfair to say that Dangui was an opportunist.