[Buddha-l] persecuting Christians in Tang China

[Dan Lusthaus]

What information is available on Empress Wu persecuting any Christians?

Nestorians arrived (according to some accounts by invitation) in 635.
Emperor Tai Zong (627-650) and his son, Gao Zong, who succeeded him
(650-684) were very ecumenical, and gracious -- even generous -- to the
Nestorians. Emperess Wu (who was originally the concubine of Tai Zong, and
then of Gao Zong, though, she began to control things even while Gao
officially ruled) came to official power around 690.

In 688 apparently some Buddhists in Loyang (an important Buddhist center,
but not exactly the capital, which was at Chang'an) were less than welcoming
to the Nestorians setting up shop. This was rivalry, not "persecution."

Empress Wu herself contracted a Nestorian to finance the construction (an
Indian was the architect). Since he found favor in her eyes, she helped
squelch the complaints of the Buddhists in Loyang (even though she was a
Buddhist). Hardly "persecution" in the European sense.

Emperor Wu Zong (841-837) -- not to be confused with Empress Wu -- who was a
Daoist, persecuted Buddhism, and eventually got around to adding Christians
and Zoroastrians to the list.

"...when Wu Tsung [= Wu Zong] ascended the throne, the Taoists came to
control the Court. They were in-tensely jealous of the rapid growth of
Buddhist monasteries. In the reign of Hsuan Tsung [Xuan Zong] there were
already 5,358 monasteries. In 749 it was estimated that there were 120,000
men and women who had taken the vow. The number continued to grow after the
rebellion. But economic and political matters also contributed to Wu Tsung's
policy of persecution in 845. Monastic establishments withdrew men in great
numbers from military and civil services and cut down the receipts of the
imperial treasury through their immunity from taxation. In 845 Wu Tsung
suppressed 4,600 monasteries and more than 40,000 private monastic
establishments. Only historic Buddhist monasteries of great beauty in the
large cities were to be preserved. He also ordered some 260,000 monks and
nuns to return to secular lives. Monasteries of Central and Western Asian
origins were also involved. A petition to the Court stated, "As for the Ta
Ch'in (Nestorian) and Muhu (Zoroastrian) temples, these heretical religions
must not alone be left when the Buddhists have been suppressed; they must
all be compelled to re.turn to lay life and resume their original callings
and pay taxes, or if they are foreign they shall be sent back to their
native Places." From this petition it is clear that there were Chinese
Nestorian members as well as those of Persian or Central Asian origin. It
followed that an Imperial decree "compelled the Ta Ch'in (Nestorianism) and
Muhu, (Zoroastrianism) to the number of more than 3,000 persons to return to
lay life and to cease to confound the customs of China."
http://www.orthodox.cn/history/jingjiao/nest1.htm

During Emperor Xuan Zong's reign there was some additional "persecution" of
Christians (they were forbidden to preach), but not by Buddhists. Xuan Zong
hated Buddhism.

So, Richard, what exactly is the Buddhist attitude toward falsely slandering
the entire tradition, and disseminating that to unsuspecting students (and
buddha-lers)?

Dan