Among the Dunhuang documents, when examining some of the monk signature lists, name list of monks copying scriptures and name list of monks chanting scriptures in monasteries, we can estimate a relatively accurate literacy rate of the Buddhist sangha. Generally speaking, the literacy rate of the sangha during the Guiyi Army 歸義軍 period (851–1036) was lower than that during the Tibetan occupation period (786–851). The reason for this change is closely related to each regime’s Buddhist policy, the size and living situation of the sangha, and the Buddhist atmosphere. The decrease in the literacy rate of the sangha had great negative consequences, but when viewed under the context of the stay at home monks and the secularization of Buddhism, the number of literate monks had actually increased. They were more closely integrated with the secular society and their functions in the regional society were more pronounced. At the same time, the changes in the literacy rate of the monks in Dunhuang can also serve as an important reference for understanding the development of Buddhism in the Central China.
目次
Abstract 1 Keywords 1 1. Introduction 1 2. List of Buddhist Scriptures and Signature List 3 3. The Scripture Chanting Name List of the Monastic Members 9 4. Reasons That the Literacy Rate of the Sangha in Dunhuang Declined under the Guiyi Army Period 16 5. The Significance of the Decrease in the Literacy Rate of the Sangha during the Period of the Guiyi Army from the Perspective of the Monks Staying at Home 19 6. Conclusions 21 Notes 23 References 24 Primary Sources 24 Secondary Studies 24
