Buddhism and Ancient Chinese States

Abstract

This is a study of the inscriptions on various types of Buddhist images and stelae made by the common people during the fourth to the ninth century. These inscriptions demonstrate that many common people dedicated their merits of making Buddhist images to emperors, ministers and also the state apart from their present parents and parents of past seven generations. The ordinary people’s consciousness about emperors and states were very high and they paid the compassion of the emperors and state by dedicating the merits of making Buddhist images.