MORE ON THE IMPACT OF BUDDHISM ON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY IN TANG CHINA // BSU bulletin. Philosophy. - 2020. №2. . - С. 37-45.

MORE ON THE IMPACT OF BUDDHISM ON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY IN TANG CHINA

DOI: 10.18101/1994-0866-2020-2-37-45 UDK: 1(510) + 294.3 (510)

The article considers the impact of Buddhism on the political structure of society in Tang China (618–907). Based on the institutional and substantial approaches to the social struc- ture of society, we have identified the main elements of the political structure: political institutions (the institution of the head of state, the institute of executive power, the insti- tution of public service, the institute of law) and socio-political groups (emperor, the priv- ileged estates, the unprivileged estates) of the Tangan society; analyzed the influence of Buddhism on them. It was concluded that the influence of Buddhism on the political structure of Tang China was inconsiderable. Buddhism did not have a significant impact on the political institutions of Chinese society; its appearance did not lead to the develop- ment of a new socio-political group and a new subject of law in political and legal rela- tions. In the political structure of the Tang society Buddhism occupied a place in the Chi- nese traditional socio-political groups, which representatives were the carriers of its ideas.

Buddhism; religion; the Tang Era; society; political structure; political insti- tution; institute of the head of state; institute of executive power; institute of public ser- vice; institute of law; socio-political group.