This study focuses on the revival of the image of the pilgrim monk Shi Faxian 釋法顯 (c. 337-c. 422 CE) in modern and contemporary China. In recent years, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrims of the past have enjoyed renewed popularity in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). They have come to be regarded as exemplary figures due to their capacity to leverage Buddhism’s unifying influence. This recent use of Buddhism as soft power recalls the strategies once used to strengthen diplomatic ties with Buddhist countries in Asia during the Republic of China and Maoist eras. This so-called “dharma diplomacy” was grounded in the promotion of a Pan-Asian vision of Buddhism, viewed as an extensive network unifying Asia.
The Legacy of Faxian 法顯 in Modern China: Remembering and Redefining a Buddhist Hero
Ester Bianchi
2025
Abstract
This study focuses on the revival of the image of the pilgrim monk Shi Faxian 釋法顯 (c. 337-c. 422 CE) in modern and contemporary China. In recent years, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrims of the past have enjoyed renewed popularity in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). They have come to be regarded as exemplary figures due to their capacity to leverage Buddhism’s unifying influence. This recent use of Buddhism as soft power recalls the strategies once used to strengthen diplomatic ties with Buddhist countries in Asia during the Republic of China and Maoist eras. This so-called “dharma diplomacy” was grounded in the promotion of a Pan-Asian vision of Buddhism, viewed as an extensive network unifying Asia.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
