The Qing Government Management Of Tibetan Buddhism

As the most prestige one among the four major Buddhist mountains, the historical Mount Wutai enjoys a special position in both ecclesiastic and secular sectors. The Tibetan Buddhism in Mount Wutai is the best method and proof of the bonding the ethnic identities. It acts as a bridge of Chinese and foreign cultural communication as well as the communication among Han, Manchu, Mongol, Tibetan cultures. By consolidating the Unity of Nationalities and Political stability the Tibetan Buddhism has made an indelible contribution in the building of the whole multi-ethnic China. Mount Wutai has been paid special attention to by emperors of many dynasties, especially for the Qing government. It used Wutai as a channel to placate Mongol and Tibet, which largely contributed to the ethnic unity and the politics stability. All those bring not only historical meaning but also reference value to the studies on the management policies of Qing government on Tibetan Buddhism on Mount Wutai.Directed by Materialism, following the consistency of logic and history, the paper runs a discussion on the policies of Qing government on the Tibetan Buddhism in terms of religion, ethnics and politics, based on considerable amount of historical data. The first chapter examines the development of Buddhism in Mount Wutai from Tang Dynasty to Ming Dynasty, during which policies like royal support and pilgrimage of hierarchs. This can be seen as the historical background of the religious policies from Qing government on Tibetan Buddhism in Mount Wutai. The second chapter discusses in detail the forms of support and homage to the Tibetan Buddhism in Mount Wutai shown by Qing government, including royal visitations, finance largess and temple construction. The third chapter runs a deeper exploration on the policies of lifting the status of the Lama, settling the hierarchs, and the royal ceremony of salutation. All those measures are in essence the management and controlling of Tibetan Buddhism with its virtual purpose of identifying Wutai as a "Tibet in Central China" to appease the people in Mongol and Tibetan regions. In the last chapter the paper analyzes the policies of appointing both Jasak Grand Lama and Grand Preceptor Zhang Jia as the abbot of Mount Wutai to balance the distinct religious powers of Han-Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. This policy reflects the "average support and dividing the power" ethnic and religious principle of Qing government, which was adapted to the Mongol and Manchu regions. The identifying of four major incarnated lamas is the most obvious reflection of this policy. This chapter has also analyzed the value and meaning of this very policy.The support and management of the Tibetan Buddhism in Mount Wutai from the Qing government reflect the role of Mount Wutai. The Qing government viewed Wutai as an important bond between Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Mongolia Grassland and Central China. By lifting the religious status of Mount Wutai, Qing government has conciliated the Mongol and Tibet thus have the governing state of itself secured. The Qing government has adapted, in both Mongol, Tibetan regions and Mount Wutai, the policy of dividing and scattering the power and influence of the religious leaders, as well as that of favoritism-free construction. As limited as these measures are, they are still of high value of reference in terms of the ethnic and religious policy today.