DOI: 10.30792/2949-5768-2023-1-80-97
PARTICIPATION OF BUDDHIST MONKS IN PALACE INTRIGUES DURING THE TANG DYNASTY (USING THE STORY OF MONK HUIFANG AS AN EXAMPLE)
Lepekhova Elena Sergeevna – Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia).
E-mail: elene2278@gmail.com.
The main topic of this study are the Buddhist aspects in the political struggle of the heirs of Empress Wu Zetian (the court conspiracies of Empress Wei in 707 and Princess Taiping in 713) In this struggle for power, Buddhism was also actively used as an ideological means, shown as an example on the story of the rise and fall of Monk Huifang (?–713). In the period from 705 to 713, he enjoyed the patronage of Empress Wu Zetian, Emperors Zhong-zong and his brother Rui-zong, their sister, Princess Taiping, as well as Zhong–zong’s wife, Empress Wei. The significant success of the Buddhist clergy during the reign of Wu Zetian, activated pople close to the imperial court in order to use the Buddhist doctrine for their own purposes. The Empress’s entourage and her closest relatives tried to make the most of their remaining influence, striving to use the opportunities opened by the Empress.
