Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on Advanced Research in Education
Year: 2025
DOI:
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A Study on The Cultivation of Overseas Monk Students of The Buddhist College of Minnan in The Republic of China
Shi Daoxin
ABSTRACT:
Master Taixu initiated the cultivating of overseas monk students of the Buddhist College of Minnan in the Republic of China. When he saw the decline of Chinese Buddhism, he wanted to revive it. Therefore, he started to establish Buddhist colleges in China to cultivate Saṃgha talents. Soon after, he realized that it was insufficient to achieve his dream of Buddhist revival in China. It was thought that talented persons who were proficient in multiple languages and received a high education were necessary to achieve that goal. Therefore, he commenced to send his students to study abroad in 1925, to promote exchange between Chinese and foreign Buddhists, introduce Chinese Buddhism into the world, and revive Chinese Buddhism from the outside to the inside by rescuing Buddhism in an indirect but expedient way. He continuously sent many students from the Buddhist College of Minnan to study in Burma, Ceylon, India, Siam, and Japan. It has been historically confirmed that his attempt was successful. Those overseas monk students played an important role in the transmission of Chinese Buddhism and the promotion of exchange between Chinese and foreign Buddhists in modern times. They not only revived Buddhism in China but also spread Chinese Buddhism abroad. The significance of this study is that it will throw light on the successful experience of people of the past in disseminating Chinese Buddhism and introducing it into the world effectively making admirable contributions to the modernization and internationalization of Chinese Buddhism.
keywords: Master Taixu; Overseas Monk Students of the Buddhist College of Minnan; Republic of China; Buddhist Revival in China; Exchange between Chinese and Foreign Buddhists