Buddhist Association of China Zhōngguó Fójiào Xiéhuì 中国佛教协会
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◀ Buddhism, Tibetan Comprehensive index starts in volume 5, page 2667. Buddhist Association of China Zhōngguó Fójiào Xiéhuì 中国佛教协会 The currently Beijing- based Buddhist Asso- ciation of China (BAC) was founded in Shang- hai in 1927 by lay Buddhists who were inspired by reformist monks such as Taixu to defend their collective interests. The organization fell apart during the civil war and its factions split under Communist rule, but resumed ac- tivities in 1976 under the leadership of Zhao Puchu. ntil recently only two organizations claimed to represent all Buddhists in China: the Buddhist Association of China ([BAC] zhongguo fojiao xie- hui), based in Beijing, and the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China ([BAROC] zhongguo fojiaohui), based in Taipei, Taiwan. This situation differs from that in imperial China, when Buddhists were not affiliated with a unique institution. In the absence of a supreme author- ity Buddhists have been spared internecine (occurring within a group) conflicts over doctrine, but on the other hand they have been vulnerable to attempts by the state to control or even suppress their activities. Fei lai feng Buddha, from the Yuan dynasty Beginning with the persecution against them during (1279–1368). Photo by Joan Lebold Cohen the Tang dynasty (618–907 ce), Buddhist institutions ex- perienced a secular decline until laypeople revived the tra- dition through charity work at the end of the nineteenth Buddhist institutions during the Taiping Rebellion, and century. Although the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) was the later emperors were too weak to react when modern- supportive of the Tibetan Buddhism practiced by Mon- izers converted temples into schools. In this context lay gols, Tibetans, and other minorities, it did not protect Buddhists during the beginning of the Republican period 243 © 2009 by Berkshire Publishing Group LLC U 244 Berkshire Encyclopedia of China 宝 库 山 中 华 全 书 (1912–1949) tried to set up a unified Buddhist organization attitude did not prevent the organization from suffering to defend their collective interests. In 1927, inspired by re- persecution during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). formist monks such as Taixu (1890–1947), they founded As a result the organization could not operate for years, the BAC in Shanghai. The civil war proved fatal to the and its future was uncertain. The BAC finally resumed organization, which split after the Chinese Communist activities in 1976 under the leadership of Zhao Puchu Party (CCP) took power. Some monks went into exile in (1908–2000), a lay leader who shared the ideas of Taixu. Hong Kong, others to Taiwan or abroad. In 1950 exiled Under his leadership Buddhism experienced a remarkable monks living in Taiwan created the BAROC, which ex- comeback and even an endorsement by CCP leader Jiang ercised a monopoly of representation for all Buddhists on Zemin. In 2006 the BAC sponsored a historical gathering the island and claimed to represent all Chinese Buddhists in Hangzhou, China, when it organized the first World in international Buddhists organizations during the pe- Buddhist Forum, at which monks from the People’s Re- riod of martial law (1947–1987). public of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan jointly acted Although the BAROC represented a small propor- as overseers. tion of Chinese Buddhists in the world, it was the only André LALIBERTÉ organization recognized by the World Buddhist Sangha Council. The BAROC benefited from the protection of the government, but its authority declined at the onset of Further Reading the democratization process as new organizations, such Chen, B., & Deng, Z. (2003). Ershi shiji zhongguo fojiao as the Foguangshan monastic order and the Tzu Chi [Chinese Buddhism in the twentieth century]. Taipei, Foundation, became much more important in Taiwan Taiwan: Xiandai chan. and within the Chinese Diaspora (scattering of a peo- Jones, C. B. (1999). Buddhism in Taiwan: Religion and ple). Meanwhile, in the People’s Republic of China, the the state: 1660–1990. Honolulu: University of Hawaii CCP encouraged monks and laypeople to join the BAC, Press. which was reconstituted in 1953. The BAC was cautious Welch, H. (1972). Buddhism under Mao. Cambridge, MA: and expressed its loyalty to Chinese authority, but this Harvard University Press. Walk sidewise and block the way. 横行霸道 Héng xíng bà dào Bureau of Religious Affairs ▶ © 2009 by Berkshire Publishing Group LLC.