The genesis and initial development of Bohai Buddhism is due to several factors. Firstly, the beginning of Buddhism in the Bohai State was laid by the penetration and influence of the Buddhist culture of the Sui and Tang dynasties; the carriers of this trend could be the Mohe from Yingzhou, who were part of the conglomerate of the creators of the state. Secondly, the integration of Goguryeo Buddhism and its followers who inhabited the Tumen River basin played a significant role. Later, the Buddhist culture of the Tang Dynasty exerted an ever-increasing influence on the development of Bohai Buddhism. With the development of the political system, cities and transport links in the Bohai State, Buddhism gradually became the dominant religious ideology in worldview and culture. Bohai Buddhism received its vivid expression in the construction of temples and pagodas. The architecture and decoration of Bohai's Buddhist temples and pagodas reflected their strong resemblance to the Buddhist culture of the Tang Dynasty. After the defeat of the Bohai State by the Khitan and the creation of the Liao Empire, Bohai Buddhism did not quickly disappear, its remains can be traced in the culture of the Bohai people that survived after the fall of the state, especially in the beliefs of the Bohai aristocracy.
Keywords: Buddhism, Bohai, Mohe, Buddhist temple, pagoda
DOI: 10.22250/2072-8662.2021.4.64-77
About the author
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Wang Junzheng 王俊铮 – Master of Historical sciences, postgraduate student at the Department of Study of Religion and History, |