The Revitalization of Buddhism in Post-War Taiwan : A Case Study of Fo Guang Shan

• Main Authors: TAY TANG LIN, 鄭丹琳
• Other Authors: 謝劍
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/69473915219018629420

碩士 === 佛光人文社會學院 === 社會學研究所 === 92 === Religion is an important part of man’s life. Post-war Taiwan experienced great social changes and tends towards rationalization and modernization. According to Religious Secularization theory, religious influence should decline in Taiwanese society, however, religion in post-war Taiwan, especially Buddhism showed immense development, the author believes this is the result of Buddhism’s Revitalization Movement. This paper seeks to explore the revitalization of Buddhism in post—war Taiwan. This paper chooses Fo Guang Shan as its case study due to its role in the revitalization process of post war Buddhism, its religiosity, scope of development, historical significance and influence. This paper investigates the process, contents and significance of this revitalization. Hence through exploring the elements in post war social changes that helped to revitalize Buddhism, Fo Guang Shan’s development process, its practice of Humanistic Buddhism and the realization of its social ideal, the‘Fo Guang Pureland’, this paper hopes to present a clearer understanding of the revitalization of Buddhism in post war Taiwan. This paper’s research methods include participant observation, in-depth interview and data analysis. As this is a rare research theme, the author hopes this paper can offer a marco religious sociological cum anthropological viewpoint in the arena of academic research concerning the development of post war Buddhism and Fo Guang Shan