The Collapse of Western Jin and Buddhism’s Opportunity

The early 4th century marked one of China’s most catastrophic collapses. As the Western Jin dynasty (265-316) crumbled under nomadic invasions, cities burned and rivers ran red with blood. This devastation created fertile ground for Buddhism’s spread – a religion offering solace amid chaos. Into this maelstrom stepped two extraordinary figures: Fotudeng, the miracle-working monk from Kucha, and his disciple Dao’an, who would systematize Chinese Buddhism. Their story reveals how spiritual movements flourish in times of social disintegration.

Fotudeng: The Miracle Worker Who Tamed Tyrants

Born in the oasis kingdom of Kucha (modern Kuqa, Xinjiang), Fotudeng trained in Udyāna (Swat Valley, Pakistan) before embarking eastward. His 310 CE arrival in Luoyang coincided with history’s cruel irony – the very year nomadic Xiongnu warlord Liu Cong declared himself emperor and prepared to sack the Jin capital.

The horrors Fotudeng witnessed defied imagination:
– Starving peasants resorting to cannibalism during locust plagues
– 30,000 officials massacred when Luoyang fell in 311
– Palaces torched, Emperor Huai paraded as a captive

Rather than flee, Fotudeng resolved to convert the conquerors. His target: Shi Le, a former slave turned warlord whose brutality became legendary. Contemporary accounts describe Shi Le’s forces:
– Throwing victims from towers for sport
– Forcing families to cannibalize prisoners
– Burying thousands alive

Converting the Unconvertible

Fotudeng employed a shrewd strategy – demonstrating supernatural powers before teaching doctrine. When Shi Le demanded proof of Buddhism’s efficacy, the monk:
– Predicted military victories through bell divination
– Showed distant events using sesame oil and rouge
– Reportedly revived the dead with willow branches

These “miracles” mirrored techniques used by Christian missionaries in Japan centuries later – meeting audiences at their level of expectation. The approach worked spectacularly. Shi Le proclaimed Fotudeng “Great Monk,” while successor Shi Hu honored him as “National Treasure,” granting unprecedented privileges:
– Riding in carved imperial carriages
– Being carried into court by ministers
– Having even princes support his palanquin

The Paradox of Patronage

Fotudeng’s success created both opportunities and dilemmas:
1. Explosive Growth: Temples multiplied; ordinations skyrocketed
2. Problematic Motivations: Many joined sangha to avoid taxes/conscription
3. Discipline Crisis: Lack of monastic rules threatened Buddhism’s integrity

When Fotudeng died in 348 (aged 117), he left no writings but something greater – a template for Buddhist-state relations and thousands of disciples, including the brilliant Dao’an.

Dao’an: The Systematizer

This ugly yet brilliant monk (nicknamed “Lacquer Daoist” for his dark skin) transformed Fotudeng’s legacy:

Key Reforms:
– Standardized all monks’ surname as “Shi” (释), emphasizing universal discipleship under Buddha
– Rejected “Geyi Buddhism” – the problematic practice of explaining Buddhist concepts through Daoist/Confucian terms
– Established monastic rules when none existed

His reputation became so immense that Fu Jian, ruler of Former Qin, boasted after capturing Xiangyang (379 CE):
“With 100,000 troops, I gained but one-and-a-half men – Dao’an is the one, scholar Xi Zuochi the half.”

The Ripple Effects

Dao’an’s dispersal of disciples during warfare accidentally spread Buddhism nationwide. His pupil Huiyuan founded the Pure Land tradition at Mount Lu, while his advocacy brought translator Kumārajīva to China. Most crucially, his reforms enabled Chinese Buddhism to:
– Develop independent of foreign monks
– Create distinctively Sinitic traditions
– Maintain integrity amid political chaos

Legacy in the Ashes

These 4th-century pioneers established patterns lasting centuries:
1. Cultural Adaptation: Using miracles/powers to gain hearing, then teaching deeper truths
2. Political Engagement: Working with rulers while maintaining spiritual autonomy
3. Institutional Innovation: Creating structures to preserve Buddhism’s essence

As China entered its long medieval darkness, the sangha became repositories of learning, compassion, and stability – a testament to Fotudeng’s vision and Dao’an’s organizational genius. Their story reminds us that spiritual revolutions often bloom most vibrantly when material worlds crumble.