An Expaned Sangha:

An Exploratory Essay on Buddhist/Elite Interaction in Imperial China

| Evan Lampe

During the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, radical students called  Red Guards 

destroyed many Buddhist temples and religious shrines.  At the same time the Chinese killed Buddhist

monks and nuns in Tibet, and they destroyed numerous Buddhist temples.  Today, only thirty years later,

personal religious tolerance has returned to China, and Buddhist temples are being rebuilt; some of the

largest Buddhist temples are being constructed with support from Chinese leaders.  How can students

of Buddhism in China explain this paradox?  Although the mass movements of twentieth century China

were unique, government suppression of Buddhism was not.  Ever since its introduction into China in

the second century, C. E., Buddhism has enjoyed a shaky relationship with the Chinese state and with its

elite.  I hope to give some clues regarding an answer to our paradox by looking at the relationship

between the Chinese elite and Buddhism, knowing that the complete answer is much more complex.  

In general, the Chinese elite has attacked Buddhism for four reasons.  First, the elite often con 

An Expanded Sangha: An Exploratory Essay on Buddhist/ Elite Interaction in Imperial China   Evan Lampe

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