Question

Why did Tang emperor Wuzong persecute Buddhist monks and nuns?

a) To assert Confucian dominance
b) To promote Taoism
c) To weaken the Buddhist establishment
d) Due to a personal feud with Buddhist leaders

Answer 1

Emperor Wuzong of Tang China persecuted Buddhist monks and nuns to curtail the power and influence of Buddhism, which threatened the state's Confucian and Daoist values and imperial order.

Step-by-step explanation:

The persecution of Buddhist monks and nuns by Tang emperor Wuzong was primarily motivated by the perception that Buddhism, with its increasing power and influence, posed a threat to the traditional Confucian and Daoist values that underpinned the state. The Tang Empire during the mid-ninth century saw a significant crackdown on Buddhism as it was believed to be an alien influence that could destabilize the state's order and its Confucian and Daoist leaders. Emperor Wuzong initiated widespread persecution, destroying thousands of temples and shrines, closing monasteries, and forcing Buddhist clergy into secular life. This active suppression aimed to reduce the political and economic power of the Buddhist establishment, which had grown considerable due to the patronage of previous rulers such as Empress Wu Zetian, a devout Buddhist. The emperor's actions resulted in the weakening of the Buddhist establishment's influence over the state.