The Research On The Relationship Between Fujian And Taiwan Buddhism

Fujian faces Taiwan across the sea,Fujian people moved to Taiwan since long time ago,together with their Buddhism belief.During Kingdom of Tungning,Fujian traditional temple Buddhism,folk Buddhism with the focus of Guanyin belief,Lay Buddhism were brought to Taiwan by soldiers,scholars and other people.From Kingdom of Tungning to Qing Dynasty,monks from Fujian made great contributions to the inheritance and development of orthodox Buddhism in Taiwan.At the same time,people from Fujian set up the folk Buddhism,similar to that in their hometown,in Taiwan and the folk part of the belief was strengthened.Monks in Taiwan,like those in Fujian,also lived in temples and had the abbot.They held various religious activities to satisfy the need of the local people and used temples to train monks and promote Buddhism.In Taiwan,folk Buddhism was more popular than orthodox Buddhism.During the Japanese colonial period,the relationship between Fujian Buddhism circle and Taiwan Buddhism circle didn't become estranged from each other due to the Japanese rule.Instead,their relationships were maintained and continued.It became the tradition in Taiwan Buddhism circle that the monks got ordained in Fujian and it was also the symbol that the monks received the high social status.Taiwan Buddhism regarded the carriage of Fujian Buddhism regulations as their tradition.The new thoughts and movements in Fujian Buddhism circle became the important source for Taiwan Buddhism circle.Ambitious Taiwan Buddhist youth came to learn in Southern Fujian Buddhist College.When they returned,they become an important force in the Buddhism reform and development.The communications between Fujian Buddhism circle and Taiwan Buddhism circle during Japanese colonial period were the fightback of Fujian-Taiwan Buddhism against Japanese Buddhism.