The Religious Lives of Shanghai's Lay Buddhist Business Elites and the Modernization of Chinese Buddhism: A Case Study of Wang Yiting (1867~1938)

Despite their significant role in the history of modern Chinese Buddhism, focused study on the Shanghai's lay Buddhist business elites is insufficient for a full understanding on them. This thesis is a case study of a representative Shanghai's lay Buddhist business elite called Wang Yiting (1867∼1938). We aim at analyzing his religious practices and his involvement in the modernization of Chinese Buddhism in Shanghai. Making use of first-hand resources including local chronicles, archives, Wang's artworks and his non-Buddhist writings, this thesis applies the methodology of iconography and the theory on social practice of Pierre Bourdieu to analyze the religious practices of Wang Yiting and his reproduction and representation of modern Chinese Buddhism.;Chapter one traces the experience of Wang's taking refuge in Buddhism and his daily Buddhist practices. Chapter two discusses the lay Buddhist movement led by Wang and his friends and compares it with traditional monastic organizations. Chapter three analyzes Wang's religious beliefs as revealed in his art works. We also study how Wang has utilized Buddhist art for charity work and education of the mass. Chapter four studies the Association of Chinese Philanthropy of Aiding Life in Shanghai. We will study how the popular practices of spirit writing and of the Jigong cult was introduced into the Buddhism by Wang Yiting.;Through the case study of Wang we intend to show (1) how the Shanghai Buddhist lay merchants had successfully transformed the traditional monastic economy, (2) how they had integrated the popular practice of spirit writing and charity work into modern Buddhism, and finally (3) how the leadership of modern Buddhism has transferred from eminent monks to these lay Buddhist merchants.