A Study Of Buddha Zi Bo And The Society In Wan Li Reign Period

This dissertation studies the society in late Ming Dynasty by focusing on Buddha Zi Bo who was in the period from Jia Qing late reign period to Wan Li half early reign period, which was a very important age when social vicissitude in late Ming Dynasty took place. Buddha Zi Bo in this period, as a dignitary in late Ming Dynasty, made a great contribution to Buddhism revival; and meanwhile he forgathered with the court and took active part in the political, economic and cultural activities. His thought had a great influence on the though development of the late Ming Dynasty. The study on Buddha Zi Bo's contributions in his life and the research on the society in Wan Li reign period are combined to look into the social vicissitude in Wan Li reign period and to examine the great changes of Buddhism in the late Ming Dynasty and the role of Buddha Zi Bo in those changes. This dissertation is presented in seven sections as follows.Section One is an introductory part. This part introduces the reasons for the choice of this research subject. Some key issues are involved in the study on the relationship between Buddha Zi Bo and the society in Wang Li reign period such as Buddhist administration and sacerdotal management, the grant of Du Die (In feudal society of China, the court granted the certificate for monks or nuns) in the Ming Dynasty, and the relationship between emperors prior to Wan Li reign period, etc. Meanwhile, some issues of in dissertation writing are clarified.Section Two introduces Buddha Zi Bo's life and the historical period.