On The Trend Of Secularization Of Images Of Buddhist Monks And Nuns In Kunqiang Legendaries During The Ming And Qing Dynasties

Being introduced into China in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism has trends of localization and secular in its development. Along with the prosperity of commodity economy and the rapid growth of citizen stratum during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the impact of secular life on Buddhism is gradually reflected in different literary creation. There is a large number of Buddhist monks’ and nuns’ images appeared in legends during this period, who act as general public infected with strong secular color rather than Buddhist with disciples. Therefore, these images have special significance, which will be elaborated in five chapters in this paper.Chapter one puts forward the object of study, and sketches characteristics and the trend of development of Buddhist monks’ and nuns’ images. Chapter two will outline images of monks and nuns appeared in narrative literature works before the Ming Dynasty. Accompanied by the development of Buddhism itself, images of monks and nuns constantly change and enrich in the history from the Wei and Jin Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the degree of secularization is gradually deepened as well. Chapter three analyzes images of monks and nuns appeared in legends during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which mainly elaborates from five aspects: lust, utilitarian, tease, chivalry, and complements of other types.According to the script and stage, Chapter four analyzes methods that shape the Secularization of images of Buddhist Monks and Nuns in legends during the Ming and Qing Dynasties from aspects of profession,clothing,performance, and spoken parts, etc. Chapter five analyzes reasons of the Secularization of images of Buddhist Monks and Nuns in legends during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The explanation given is based on the Secularization of Buddhism itself, the entertainmentization of literature works and the influence of various ideas of this period.