Buddhism in the People’s Republic
The Mahayana Tradition in Contemporary China
A warm welcome to Buddhism in the People’s Republic, a special project by Buddhistdoor Global aiming to provide a concise, insightful, and informative overview of the history of contemporary Chinese Buddhism, and the modern practices and influences that are shaping the changing face of modern China.
Here, we take an in-depth look at one of the great living civilizational loci of the Buddhist tradition. Buddhism has been a key factor defining Chinese thought and culture—its far-reaching influence helping to shape and inform many aspects of life, from art, literature, philosophy, politics, and social mores to medicine, science, and material culture. Since the 1980s, Buddhism has experienced a vibrant revival throughout the Chinese cultural sphere. That awakening has gathered momentum to the present day, and continues to play an important role in the internal dialogue and evolution of Chinese society.
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Latest Updates

Book Review: Buddhist Masters of Modern China
An indispensable collection of translations and insights into the thinking and lives of modern China’s greatest monastic names

Buddhistdoor View: The Fall of Shaolin’s CEO-Monk and the Dharma-ending Age’s Temptations of Sex and Greed
Despite the politics, Shi Yongxin’s “CEO-monk” persona was always going to collapse under the weight of its own contradictions

Buddhistdoor View: Compassion and Enlightened Mirth as Modern Dharma values at the Sixth World Buddhist Forum
BDG contributor Dr. Sanjoy Barua Chowdhury recently attended one of China’s most important Buddhist events of the past few years, the Sixth World Buddhist Forum

The Sixth World Buddhist Forum: A Gathering of Harmony, a Promise of Coexistence
The sixth iteration of China’s largest international Buddhist symposium marks a renewed emphasis on compassionate action and enlightened joy

The British Library’s “A Silk Road Oasis” – Mélodie Doumy’s Exploration of Dunhuang’s Cultural Convergence
British Library curator Mélodie Doumy reveals the secrets of real, lived stories of people from the desert town of Dunhuang

Buddhistdoor View: Telling a History We Can All Resonate with through Dunhuang
The British Library’s exhibition on Dunhuang is an exemplar of storytelling to learn from our shared and interconnected human history

Transcendent Treasures: Unveiling Buddhist Art at Sotheby’s Maison Hong Kong
From 27 July to 11 September, Sotheby’s Hong Kong is hosting its new Maison’s inaugural exhibition of exquisite Buddhist sculptures

Book Review: A History of Uyghur Buddhism
Filling a critical void in the scholarly literature, Elverskog offers a fascinating and wide ranging account of Buddhism’s impact on Uyghur culture as well as the Uyghur contribution to Buddhism

Tangut Tango: Exploring the Wuwei Xixia Museum in Gansu, China
This little-known institution has on display some of the most iconic marvels of the esoteric empire of the Western Xia

Buddhistdoor View: Here Be Dragons – A Year of Transformation and Thunderstorms
This New Year of the dragon invites us to explore the Buddhist potentiality for unlimited change and positive transformation

Metallic Monuments of Mercy: Shanxi’s Iron Bodhisattva Statues
Exploring the Shanxi tradition of Iron Buddha statues, which have left an indelible mark on Chinese Buddhist art and aesthetics

The Fengxian Temple and Wu Zetian’s Esoteric Legacy
China’s first and only female emperor, Wu Zetian, left behind a remarkable legacy of esoteric and Huayan Buddhism and beyond