Seeking the Dharma on the World Stage: Lü Bicheng and the Revival of Buddhism in the Early Twentieth Century

Peng Liu

doi:10.3390/rel10100558

Abstract

This article focuses on the Chinese woman writer Lü Bicheng 呂碧城 (1883–1943) and her relationship with the worldwide movement for the revival of Buddhism in the early twentieth century. Lü rose up in the context of the “new woman” ideal and transcended that ideal as she rejected the dualistic thinking that was prevalent in her time. She embraced both reason and religion, as well as both modern and traditional ideas. Her story demonstrates that religion and the creation of the “new woman” were not mutually exclusive in her life. In the 1920s and 1930s, Lü traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and eventually converted to Buddhism after she witnessed its popularity in the West. During this period, she successfully created a social space for herself by utilizing Buddhist sources to engage in intellectual dialogues on paranormal phenomena and animal protection. At the same time, she carved out a place for Buddhism in the discourse on the convergence and divergence of science and religion after the First World War (1914–1918).

Highlights

Received: 5 August 2019; Accepted: 10 September 2019; Published: 27 September 2019During the worldwide movement for the revival of B Lü Bicheng AbstractThis article focuses on the Chinese woman writerBicheng 呂碧城 (1883–1943) played and hera significant role as between European and Chinesecentury.intellectual discourses
Relationship with the worldwide movement for the revival of Buddhism in the early twentieth activities taking place in Europe, Lü rose up in the context of the “new woman” ideal and transcended that ideal as she rejected the utilized Buddhi animal amongst. In her dualistic thinking that was prevalent in her time
楊文會 (1837–1911) and Xuyun 虛雲 (1840?–1959), Taixu gained popularity among lay intellectuals. He raised the idea of “Humanistic Buddhism”, which separated Buddhism from views of religion that emphasized the existence of ghosts and deities

Summary

Lü Bicheng and the Buddhist Revival

楊文會 (1837–1911) and Xuyun 虛雲 (1840?–1959), Taixu gained popularity among lay intellectuals He raised the idea of “Humanistic Buddhism” (rensheng fojiao 人生佛教), which separated Buddhism from views of religion that emphasized the existence of ghosts and deities. The government confiscated temples to build schools (miaochan xingxue 廟產興學) where Western science and technology could be taught Facing such a crisis, Buddhist leaders launched a series of reforms to prevent Buddhist institutions from being annihilated on account of the governmental agenda. Buddhist leaders launched a series of reforms to prevent Buddhist institutions from being annihilated on account of the governmental agenda These reforms included building Buddhist schools and establishing Buddhist unions, such as the General Buddhist Association of China (Zhonghua fojiao zonghui 中華佛教總會) and the Chinese Buddhist Association (Zhongguo fojiao hui 中國佛教會)..

Master

Lü Bicheng and the Movement for Animal Protection

Jacques

Conclusions