Commercialization of Buddhism in China

[Positive Change]

Mao Zedong's Red Army seized control of China in 1949, and the People's Republic of China was born. In 1950, China invaded Tibet and declared it to be part of China. How has Buddhism fared in Communist China and Tibet?

Although Tibet and China are under the same government, I am going to highlight China and Tibet separately, because the situations in China and Tibet are not identical.

Buddhism in China Under Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong was famously hostile to religion, and Buddhism and Communism disagree on many philosophical points. However, Buddhism had been under some degree of state control through most of its history in China, and Buddhist institutions in China submitted to Communist authority.

In the early years of Mao Zedong's dictatorship, some monasteries and temples were converted to secular use. Others became state-operated organizations, and the priests and monks became employees of the state. These state-operated temples and monasteries tended to be in large cities and other places likely to receive foreign visitors. They were intended for show, in other words.

In 1953 all of Chinese Buddhism was organized into the Buddhist Association of China. The purpose of this organization was and is to place all Buddhists under the leadership of the Communist Party so that Buddhism will support the party's agenda. It should be noted that when China brutally suppressed Tibetan Buddhism in 1959, the Buddhist Association of China fully approved the actions of the government of China.

During the "Cultural Revolution" that began in 1966, Mao's Red Guards did incalculable damage to Buddhist temples and art as well as to the Chinese sangha. After Mao Zedong's death in 1976 the government of China relaxed somewhat its oppression of religion, and Buddhism made a slow comeback. However, Buddhist institutions are still controlled by the government, and the Buddhist Association of China still exists to keep Buddhism in line.

Olympic Good Behavior?

For the past couple of years, the government of China has made many conciliatory gestures to Buddhism in China. In April 2006 China even hosted the World Buddhist Forum, in which Buddhist scholars and monks from many countries discussed world harmony. (His Holiness the Dalai Lama did not, however, attend.)

On the other hand, also in 2006 the Buddhist Association of China expelled a master of Huacheng Temple in Yichun city, Jianxi province, after he performed ceremonies for the benefit of the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989.


Tibet

Please read "Behind the Turmoil in Tibet" for the basic historical background of the current crisis in Tibetan Buddhism shared here: http://walkingpen.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/behind-the-turmoil-in-tibet-2/

Here I want to look at Buddhism in Tibet since the March 2008 riots.

As in China, the monasteries in Tibet are controlled by the government, and the monks are, in effect, government employees. China appears to favor monasteries that are lucrative tourist attractions. Monasteries frequently are visited by government agents to ensure proper behavior. Monks complain that they cannot so much as conduct a ceremony without government approval.

After the March 2008 riots, Tibet was so well locked down that little verifiable news escaped. Not until June 2008, when a few foreign journalists were allowed carefully guided tours of Lhasa, did outsiders learn that large numbers of monks are missing from Lhasa. Of 1,500 or so monks from the three major monasteries of Lhasa, about 1,000 are being detained. About 500 more probably are accused of crimes and imprisoned. There is no official information about what happened to them.

Journalist Kathleen McLaughlin wrote on July 28, 2008:

"Drepung, the largest Tibetan monastery and once home to as many as 10,000 monks, is now a reeducation camp for monks involved in the March 14 uprising. China’s state media says an 'education work group' is being conducted inside the monastery 'to restore religious order.' Up to 1,000 monks are reportedly locked inside, human-rights groups say, being retrained in line with Chinese Communist Party directives. The monastery is one of Lhasa’s taboo topics these days. Questions to locals about Drepung are typically met with a shake of the head and a wave of the hand."

Zero Tolerance

On July 30, 2008, the International Campaign for Tibet accused China of "Sweeping new measures introduced in Kardze to purge monasteries of monks and restrict religious practice." The measures include:

Monks who express dissent or refuse to 'conform' can be expelled and their residence demolished.

Tulkus (reincarnate lamas) could be 'stripped of the right to hold the incarnation lineage' if they communicate with foreigners or engage in protests against the Chinese authorities - a measure that is consistent with an earlier ruling that all reincarnate lamas must have the approval of the Chinese government.

Buddhist practice will be suspended in monasteries where a specific percentage of monks have engaged in protest or dissent.

Senior religious teachers could face public 'rectification' or imprisonment if they are shown to have even 'tolerated' peaceful protest activity.

Pervasive Oppression

It's true that China has invested a great deal of money into Tibet to modernize it, and that the Tibetan people overall enjoy a higher standard of living because of it. But that does not excuse the pervasive oppression of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetans risk imprisonment merely for possessing a photograph of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The government of China even insists on choosing the reincarnated tulkus. This is tantamount to the government of Italy muscling it's way into the Vatican and insisting on choosing the next Pope. It's outrageous.

A great many reports say that younger Tibetans, including monks, are much less likely to try to compromise with China as His Holiness the Dalai Lama have tried to do. The crisis in Tibet may not always be on the front pages of newspapers, but it is not going away, and it is likely to get worse.


Examples of Commercialism


[Picture: Tourists gathering at the entrance of the Shaolin Temple.]

Shaolin Temple in central China has inspired awe and mysticism through the centuries but has lately attracted controversy in China over charges of rampant commercialism.



[Photo: A tourist trying to copy the moves of a Shaolin kung fu master during a performance.]

Shaolin last year drew 1.6 million people who paid 100 yuan (S$20) to pass through its Disneyland-style turnstiles in Henan province, watch a half-hour kungfu show and take photos with performers for another 20 yuan.

[Positive Change]

The Buddhist Association of China announced in early June that it was launching a “harmonious monasteries” campaign in Tibet. Here’s what the People’s Daily Online reported:

Tibetan Buddhism has always upheld harmony and peace, sought to create a graceful world and extended sympathy to all lives, said Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, a living Buddha who is also vice president of the association.

As both Tibetan Buddhists and Chinese citizens, monks and nuns should benefit the country and the people, adhere to religious doctrines, promote Buddhism and serve followers, he said.

In the statement, the association’s Tibetan Buddhism division urged monks and nuns to behave as good citizens, protect the national unity, ethnic harmony and social stability, as well as avoid secessionist activities . . . The association also called on them to abide by the law.

It’s not hard to read between the lines here. It’s just a attempt to persuade Tibetans to behave and not protest while China destroys their culture and engages in what Robert Thurman, Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, described some years ago as “ethnic cleansing by population transfer.”

According to Wikipedia, “The [Buddhist Association of China] shares jurisdiction over Buddhists in China with the State Administration for Religious Affairs, which regulates all recognized religions.” While technically the BCA is not state-run, its ties to the government are obvious. In addition to the guy with the long name mentioned above, the “11th Panchen Lama” is also a V.P. of the BCA. His name is Gyaincain Norbu and he is China’s pick for the position of the highest lama in Tibet after the Dalai Lama. The person recognized by Tibetan Buddhists as the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was detained by Chinese authorities shortly after his selection was announced in 1995 (he was six years old) and he hasn’t been seen since. Many Tibet/China watchers believe he is dead.

Here is a little flip side to the state-sponsored Buddhism scene in China: Liu Wei, an official with the State Administration of Religious Affairs, recently told Buddhist and Taoist temples that they have no right to go public and list shares on stock exchanges. According to Reuters, “The listing of companies linked to world famous Chinese heritage sites is not new in the country’s three-decade-old capital markets, but attempts to list at least one religious site have apparently crossed a line.”

This is not aimed at just Buddhism and Taoism, but also the other religions (Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism) recognized by the Chinese government. Apparently a few of the more historical and popular religious sites are suspected of becoming overly commercial. This is one of the few times I agree with the Chinese government. Buddhism and commercialism should not mix.

A few years the commercialism charge was leveled at Shaolin Temple, probably the most famous Buddhist temple in the world. Over a million people visit Shaolin Temple in Henan province each year. The temple rakes in money from entrance fees, online sales of Shaolin memorabilia (fans, t-shirts, etc.), and its traveling performing troupes. A sub-industry has spouted up in the land around Shaolin where there are now more than 80 private kung fu schools that train more than 60,000 people to be like the monastery’s famous warrior-monks.

Shaolin Temple was founded in 495 CE. According to legend, the founder of Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism, Bodhidharma meditated for nine years in a nearby cave and then taught the monks at Shaolin meditation and an exercise called the Eighteen Arhat Hands. The monastery has long been associated with Chinese martial arts.

In the West. Shaolin Temple may be most famous for being the place where Kwai Chang Caine (AKA “Grasshopper”) was a monk as a young boy in the Kung Fu television series starring David Carradine, along with two great Asian character actors Keye Luke (blind Master Po) and Philip Ahn (Master Kan).

I can just picture a modern day Master Kan telling young Grasshopper, “Quickly as you can, sell the shares listed . . . When you can sell all the shares before the closure of the IPO, it will be time for you to leave.”

[rossoneri]

Religion was practically banned during The Cultural Revolution was established in 1949. During this period religion which was seen as emblematic of feudalism and foreign colonialism. Houses of worship, including temples, mosques, and churches, were converted into non-religious buildings for secular use. Imaging how many of sacred items, historic scriptures and worship places were destroyed or even being sold to so called collectors around the world. Such a pity. It was the darkest age or massive degenerate in China during that period.

But things have changed with the economic booming in China, it is very obvious with 5,000 years of history the government will be promoting this as an main factor for tourists to come and explore the rich culture of the country. I would say China is a heaven for people who love history and have many famous temple exists since 1,000 years ago. With tourists flooding into China, these famous places will have thousands of tourists visiting every single day so it somehow became a very attractive places for business. Is given.

I am glad that every single day there are thousands of tourist have been planted a seed during a visit to one of these famous Buddhist temple. We have to adapt and change every single day and Buddhism have to manifest in such a way to attract modern people with commercialization.

[Klein]

I can't really judge whether it's a good proposition for the Chinese temples to float in the stock exchange. What's most important is that the Chinese preserve Buddhism and spread the dharma. Whether they have qualified dharma teachers or not, I'm not sure. But the millions of people who visit the temples and receive Enlightened imprints is a good start.

There are so many reasons why the Chinese temples are considering to float in the stock exchange to raise funds. What they do with the money and whether more people join the dharma will determine whether this is a virtuous act.

Many mahasiddhas do things that are non conventional, for example, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Rinpoche had orgies with his students and drank alcohol as well. This is blasphemous for a dharma teacher. However, if we look at the women he slept with and the people whom he drank with, most of them are now sangha members or working full time in Naropa Institute spreading Buddhism.

[diamond girl]

Is China the only country in the world to commercialise holy places? Actually i do think that other countries do it too. Look at the Vatican city – it is such a tourist trap. China is perhaps the only country to officially and blatantly commercialise their pilgrimage places but I think that every country round the world unofficially capitalizes on their own holy places, usually for tourist dollars.

If making money out of holy places makes China more interested in preserving and promoting Buddhist areas, I’m all for it. Real spirituality can come later, but at the very least, dharma seeds are being liberally sprinkled on those who visit these places as tourist destinations.

WB,
I could not have said it better. I have heard that it is so difficult to raise the funds needed to expand religious places. People today just like to take and ask for blessings. They do not care if the place is maintained or growing so that many more can benefit like they have. This is time of degeneration.

I think that it is brilliant that these religious places seek funding from commercial means. And I like that China is so open about it. Yes, we can question their motivation. Then question that of the Pope? By being open about raising the funds openly also means open accountability. This goes hand in hand. So, accounts will be kept clean of foul play. Should there be foul play which there has been before in other religions as well, then I would say do not test the power of karma... short term gain, long term pain.