In modern East Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan, there emerged a “New Buddhist Movement,” advocating the elimination of superstition and folk beliefs inherited from old Buddhism. Instead, it aimed to establish a “New Faith”based on rational understanding of Buddhist doctrines and historical facts. To achieve this goal, a series of initiatives were undertaken to “revive” or “revitalize” Buddhism.
During the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan՚s Buddhist community also saw a group of outspoken young Buddhists striving for reform. They received education in the new style of Buddhist Sangha, and their views on Buddhist doctrines, activities, and the role Buddhism should play in the era and society were different from the past.
This paper focuses on the essays on Buddhist revitalization and reform published in the representative journal of the Buddhist community: Nanying Buddhism. It examines the changes in relevant advocates and issues of Buddhist reform, as well as the Japanese-Taiwanese Buddhist network and the intellectual trends of the time.
Keywords:
Nanying Buddhism, New Buddhist Movement, Lin Shu-san, Lin Te-lin, reform of modern Buddhism