Interview 168 What triggered your interests in research on Buddhism in contemporary and modern China? 168 Why study Buddhism, not Daoism or Confucianism? 168 Chinese Buddhism, as you argued, compromised its ideological and financial interests in exchange for political legitimacy. Do you find this approach used by Chinese Buddhism, contradictory with your thesis that “Buddhism has revived in China”? 171 You seem to be pessimistic about the role of Buddhism in balancing the authoritarian regime in China. Some scholars suggest that Buddhism in Taiwan and in other Asian countries is a constructive force for democracy movement and a civil society. What is your view on this? 172 Acknowledgement 172 Bibliography 173
