The Japanese invasion of China inflicted devastating damage on Chinese Buddhism. Many monks and nuns either lost their lives or struggled desperately for basic food and clothing. However, the Buddhist ritual economy in the Shanghai concession experienced a period of unusual prosperity. Following the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, a large number of people poured into the Shanghai foreign settlements. The religious atmosphere in the concessions during the war did not diminish, but became even more intense. The deep integration of Buddhism with Jiangnan culture made Buddhist rituals the preferred means for many to pray for the deceased and to seek blessings. The relatively stable environment of the concessions allowed Buddhist activities to continue as usual. Affected by the war and facing economic difficulties, many temples rented properties in Shanghai to establish branch monasteries to make up for the hardship of their distant ancestral temples with the help of Shanghai’s ritual service income. The growing number of temples and monastics intensified competition in the ritual market, prompting temples large and small to come up with creative strategies to attract more ritual commissions. The enormous economic benefits behind the ritual market have attracted the attention of many speculators and profiteers, bringing the superstition tax back into public discussion.
Keywords:
Shanghai Concession, Anti-Japanese War, Buddhist ritual service, unusual prosperity, superstition tax