The Taixu Era: Multi-Dimensional Perspectives of Chinese
Buddhism in Republican China (1912-1949)
In the history of Chinese Buddhism during the Republican period of modern China, Taixu was an influential reformer with decisiveness and a thinker of acute intelligence and insight. Taixu was born in 1890, got ordained in 1904, and died on 17 March 1947. Taixu advocated the reform of Chinese Buddhism and actively led the movement from 1912 to 1947, a period of time which was highly overlapping with the Republican period (1912-1949). This book, entitled “Taixu Era”, aims to discuss Taixu’s life and Chinese Buddhism in Republican China from the following multi-dimensional perspectives: (1) Revolution and Buddhism, (2) Buddhism and Politics, (3) Buddhism, Military and Wars, (4) Buddhism and Economy, and (5) Buddhism and Diplomacy. With his influential ideas and active practices, Taixu occupied a prominent position in the development of Chinese Buddhism in Republican China. His ideas of Buddhist reformation and Buddhist culture are not out-of-date in the present. They are still illuminating and insightful for contemporary readers and our times.