In the late Ming Dynasty, correspondence exchange between Buddhist monks and believers had become very popular. Some believers elaborated and shared their distress, family affairs or the problems encountered in the offices with certain reliable monks. This kind of communication channel was based on a highly trustful relationship. From these letters, we can find out that some believers were not only extensively hampered by daily personal affairs, but also wondering between the realistic and Buddhist worlds or even enjoying within. It partially explains why there were so many believers in the late Ming who did not devote themselves to Buddhist practices as monks, but took an active role in the development of Buddhism, while still maintained their lay status.
