Study On Female Buddhist Of Jiangnan Area In The Middle And Later Period Of Ming Dynasty

Buddhism was introduced into China since the Eastern Han Dynasty, after the development of the Wei and Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang dynasties, Song and Yuan period, in the later period of Ming dynasty, it already shows a tendency of Chinization and Secularization, especially in the Ming Wan Li period, in the south of the Yangtze river the development of Buddhism presents a situation of Renaissance. Buddha in the world, often with four versions:two monk congregation, named monks, nuns; two home congregation, named laymen, lay women, of which the female Buddhist nuns and lay women plays an important role in the process of the development of Buddhism. Although women in this period due to the different situation choose to be nuns or Buddha in housekeeping, but no matter what kind of forms, are through a variety of activities to Buddhism, then have either positive or negative influence on society and Buddhism. For this reason, the paper regards the group of nuns and lay women as the research object, through the historical comparison method to analysis the existence and two kinds of relationship, view and study the late Ming dynasty in the south of the Yangtze river women, and women around the world in Buddhism and the positioning of the secular world.This paper mainly from four aspects to sort out the groups of nuns and lay women:The introduction part, mainly through a number of related materials research, summed up the status in the southern region late Ming Dynasty Buddhist woman generalize, to determine the value and significance of researching those groups.The first chapter mainly introduces the historical background of the development of Buddhism in the southern region of the middle of Ming dynasty. Discusses the new situation of Buddhism in the developing in the southern region, from political, economic, cultural and social values and so on.The second chapter mainly through the collection of information to do detailed description on nuns, from its origin to activities and influence, comprehensively and deeply analyze the role of nuns exist.The third chapter through the collection of data on nuns to do detailed narrative, from its source to the activities and then to influence, comprehensive and profound analyze of the role of lay women exist.By widely comparison between the nuns and lay women,then analyze the value and influence of the two groups on Buddhism and the society, as well as behind this phenomenon mapped out in the late Ming Dynasty particular historical period the change, in order to express the female humanistic care.