Rebirth and Karmic Retribution in Fifth-century China: A Study of the Teachings of the Buddhist Monk Lu Shan Huiyuan

This dissertation examines the development of Chinese Buddhism in fifth-century China through analyzing Lushan Huiyuan's teachings on the Buddhist doctrines of rebirth and karmic retribution. These doctrines were essential for the Chinese intellectual acceptance of Buddhism, particularly its development into one of the important Chinese religious traditions of the following centuries. Using the theory of "Culture Repertoire," this study sets out to present a new perspective on the study of early-medieval Chinese Buddhism by examining intellectual exchanges between a Buddhist monk and his literati audience. It shows the role that Chinese philosophical and religious traditions played in the adoption and adaptation of Indic doctrines. The study begins with an examination of the social and intellectual milieu of Huiyuan's time, as evident in the Mount Lu community. It examines literati challenges to the Indic doctrines of rebirth and karmic retribution as seen in the debates on "the immortality of the spirit." The study provides a detailed analysis of Huiyuan's two essays, "On Retribution" ( Baoying lun) and "On Karmic Retribution of the Three Time Periods" (Sanbao lun), illustrating how Huiyuan introduced the Indic doctrine through Chinese conceptual lenses. In focusing on the intellectual exchanges between an eminent Buddhist monk and his literati audience, this study sheds new lights on the formation of early-medieval Chinese Buddhism, revealing the hitherto under-appreciated role of the literati who contributed to the development of Chinese Buddhist doctrines.