Engaging the Secular: Conceptions of the Future in Modern Chinese Buddhism (Ming-Feng Wu)
This study explores how modern Chinese Buddhism crafted its vision of the future in the early twentieth century by reimagining the secular realm. Instead of viewing the secular as a fixed entity to be accepted or rejected, the Chinese Buddhist community redefined its significance through its engagement with the “mundane world.” The research examines three concurrent dimensions of this redefinition: first, the transformation of the mundane realm from a place of suffering into a space of potential liberation and meaning; second, Chinese Buddhist reflections on the First World War, which reshaped their understanding of Buddhism’s worldly role; and third, the emergence of social movements and transnational networks that embodied these evolving interpretations. Together, these dimensions reveal that Chinese Buddhism’s vision of the future arose from actively redefining the secular's boundaries and meanings, positioning it as the foundation for Buddhist fulfillment and shaping a distinctive vision of the future.
