Monks Should Not Pay Homage to Laypeople and Related Matters (集沙門不應拜俗等事)

About 集沙門不應拜俗等事

Tang · by 彥悰纂錄

44,827 · about 149 min

The "Collection of Matters Regarding Monks Not Bowing to Secular Authority" was compiled and edited by the Tang Dynasty monk Yancong, and completed in the second year of the Longshuo era. It primarily revolves around the controversy at the time over whether monks should bow to rulers and family elders. The work records the debates during Emperor Gaozong of Tang's reign between the imperial court and the Buddhist community regarding monks not bowing to rulers and elders. It includes numerous memorials, imperial decrees, and discourses from eminent monks and court officials, clarifying the distinction between the transcendent stance of Buddhism and secular rituals. This book is an important document for studying the relationship between Buddhism and politics in the Tang Dynasty, reflecting the Chinese Buddhist community's pursuit of independence in the relationship between religion and state. It holds significant historical value for understanding the conflicts and reconciliations between Buddhist monastic discipline and traditional Chinese rituals.