๐บ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐: ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐
Out of suffering a lotus flower of happiness can open.
- Thich Nhat Hanh
White Lotus Sect (The Bailianjiao/Pai lien she ็ฝ่ฎๆ ) is aย very old, syncretic religion with a wide appeal to Chinese common people. It spread to all parts of the country.
Hence, it is significant as a cultural phenomenon. ฤฐn the composition of the White Lotus, elements of religious Taoism, Maitreya Buddhism and Manicheism are all evident.
Taking its origin from early religious Taoism, the White Lotus Sect may well be considered as a syncretised religion, directly or indirectly related to most of the peasant movements from the second dynasty of the Chinese history.
The White Lotus Sect traces its roots to the Pure Land School(Jingtuzong ๆทจๅๅฎ), founded by Huiyuanๆ ง้ (334-416 CE) who, with seventeen other adherents of Buddhism, formed a religious sect at the Donglin Temple of Mount Lu in Jiangxi in the early fifth century.
These eighteen founding members are known as the "Eighteen Worthies "of the Lien-she. Their basic aim was "nien fo hsiu hsing," incanting Buddha's name and cultivating the moral life, indicating a strong Amida Buddhist influence.
During the Northern Song period (960-1127), these societies proliferated across southern China, receiving support from monasteries and wealthy landowners.
In the mid-12th century, monk Mao Ziyuan(1096-1166) founded the White Lotus School, blending Pure Land teachings with Tiantai School methods.
Adherents venerated the Amitฤbha Buddha and followed Buddhist rules of discipline (wujie ไบๆ: not killing, not stealing, not indulging in pleasures, not speaking bad words, not drinking), to Pure Land teachings Mao Ziyuan integrated Tiantai School methods and utilized drawings to elucidate Buddha's teachings, broadening its appeal.
He compiled worship guidelines and established the Lotus Repentance Temple in Jiangsu, serving as its Master to disseminate White Lotus teachings effectively.
Meanwhile, Shi Ma (1093-1121), a peasant turned rebel leader during the Song dynasty, rose to power amidst corruption and external threats.
He merged his bandit group with the White Lotus Sect, but was betrayed and killed by its leader, Zheng, leading to the suppression of their rebellion. Despite their differing paths, both episodes underscored the turmoil and corruption within the Song dynasty, contributing to its eventual downfall to the Jurchens and Mongols.
Later the White Lotus School rebelled against the Yuan dynasty in 14th century AD, seeking to bring about the arrival of the Amitabha Buddha or Bodhisattva Maitreya. Despite initial suppression by the Yuan court, the rebellion escalated under leaders like Han Shantong and Liu Futong.
In 1352, a revolution inspired by the White Lotus Society began in Guangzhou, with Zhu Yuanzhang, a former monk, rising to lead the rebellion. By 1356, Zhu had captured Nanjing and gained support from Confucian scholars, claiming the Mandate of Heaven.
Internal conflicts among the Mongols weakened their ability to suppress the rebellion, allowing Zhu to extend his rule across China. By 1387, Zhu had liberated all of China, establishing the Ming dynasty with himself as Emperor Hongwu.
During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the White Lotus Sect continued its violent millenarian activities, drawing inspiration from ideologies that had motivated previous rebellions. The mantra "the True and Empty Land and the Eternal Mother" gained prominence, blending Confucian, Buddhist, Manichaean, and Taoist beliefs.
Sectarian literature proliferated in areas controlled by the White Lotus. Government persecution persisted due to increased rebellions involving the sect, with some areas experiencing ongoing White Lotus activity despite changes in dynasty.
Natural calamities and heavy taxation contributed to rural distress in the 15th century, leading to sporadic violent outbreaks, though not always involving the White Lotus. Notable rebellions, such as those led by T'ang Sai-erh and Li Fu-ta, occurred during this time, with interactions with non-Chinese tribes also influencing events.
Various White Lotus sects, lacking a central authority, had diverse rituals, liturgies, and central deities, though Maitreya was predominant. From the Zhengde reign-period (1505-1521) onwards, a new deity emerged: Wusheng Laomu, the "Birthless Old Mother," seen as a transcendent Buddha. Believed to protect children and guide them back to Heaven, different sects utilized different writings to spread their faith.
During the Qing dynasty ((1644โ1911), government persecution and White Lotus-led rebellions persisted. In 1774, the Wangs of Stone Buddha village, revolting as the White Yang sect under Wang Lun, incorporated healing and boxing into their activities.
The sect adopted the slogan "Oppose the Ch'ing, Restore the Ming," capitalizing on anti-dynastic sentiments. In 1796, led by Lui-Sung and Liu Chih-hsieh, the White Lotus initiated a rebellion prophesying the descent of the Buddha and the re-establishment of the Ming dynasty, utilizing sacred texts for legitimacy.
Government forces struggled to suppress this rebellion, which was followed by the 1813 uprising of the Eight Diagram Sect led by Lin Ch'ing and Li Wen-ch'eng, lasting nine years and rallying five provinces against imperial authority. Ultimately, government actions led to the demise of the independent White Lotus entity.
Throughout the history of its activities which, at one time or another enveloped most of the provinces in China proper, and sometimes beyond, the White Lotus displayed a remarkable ability to survive. It had brought governments to their knees, endured defeat, persecution and exile only to arise again and again. But after the destruction of the Eight Diagrams, the society as an entity which could command the loyalty of whole provinces, became fragmented. However, from this period, various sects, including the Big Sword Society, Red Beards, Red Spears, Boxers and the present-day Great Way of Former Heaven used Buddhist and Taoist ritual and can be linked to the White Lotus. Through them, the White Lotus lived on, influencing others who, following in its footsteps, continued its noble struggle.
