Early Chinese Nuns In Research

As early as in the period of primeval Buddhism, there already existed Bhiksuni Sangha whose religious practice made active social influences with its outstanding achievements. While the attitude towards women by School Buddhism tended to be more strict with its commandments and rules, Mahayana broke through the limits by Hinajana, bringing about theoretic support for the existence of Bhiksuni Sangha.During the 4th century, the first Bhiksun Sangha in China was established in Luoyang ,whose members came from all the walks of society. The growth of Bhiksun Sangha was boosted by the comparatively free social environments at that time, when the failure of marriage and the influence by family worship were chief reasons for women's choice. At the beginning of 5th century, by the help of Srilankani, the Bhiksun in Jiangkang received their full ordinations. The further development of Bhikuni Sangha, to some extent, counted on the popular social reverence for Bhkuni as well as the well up-bringing of those Bhkuni. Somewhat with the abundant material basis from their close exchanges with those social elites, the Bhkuni were respected by the whole society and took an active part in social actives, while some of them even interfered in court affairs by their special relations with the upper class.