Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s1.t12: Acharya Buddhism
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s1.t12
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Acharya Buddhism
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It is a Buddhist cult among the Bais inhabiting Dali, Yunnan, China. It is a sect of Tantrism or esoteric Buddhism. The Sanskrit term *acharya* means guru or teacher. Buddhism practiced by the Bais allows an acharya to get married and beget offspring. His position as a priest is hereditary. In 8th-9th centuries, Tantrism was in vogue in India and some *acharyas* went to Dali, Yunnan to do missionary work. In 839 CE, Acharya Candragupta reached Nanzhao, a kingdom in Dali then. King Quan Fengyou appointed him as state mentor and married his younger sister to Candragupta. Since then on, *acharyas* enlisted the support of the political power and financial charity of the Nanzhao upper ruling classes and went in for large-scale construction of Buddhist temples and images, absorbed followers among the Bais. Consequently, Tantrism developed vigorously and acharyas became state mentors first of the Kingdom of Nazhao (738-902 CE) and then the Kingdom of Dali (937-1254 CE) for generations.
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The influence of Acharya Buddhism began to wane gradually in the upper society of the Bais since the 13th century, but it was still flourishing in rural areas. Acharyas once called upon the people of various nationalities to resist against rulers of the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368 CE) and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). As a result, Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, once banned the dissemination of Acharya Buddhism. However, he later abolished his prohibition and set up an office to administer the affairs of Acharya Buddhism. Zhu Di, Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, once ordered the acharya of Beitangtian, Dali to go to Beijing to pray for his blessings. Nevertheless, during the reign of the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911 CE), the office in charge of affairs with regard to Acharya Buddhism was revoked.
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*Acharyas* performed various duties and ceremonies including Buddhist scriptures reading and funerals. As the host of a Buddhist altar, an acharya, since the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, could only obtain his religious name after the authorities of a county applied to the Central Government on his behalf. Without a legal status, he could not hold religious services for the masses.
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*Acharya* Buddhism has declined in modern times. Most of the hereditary *acharyas* have given up their religious positions and are engaged in farming nowadays. Scriptures-chanting is merely their side occupation.
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(*Lan Jifu*)