The Secularization Transformation of the Buddhist News Industry in Taiwan--An Investigation of the Transition from the "Awakening the World" to the "Merit Times"

• Main Authors: Hsueh-Ching Fu, 傅雪卿
• Other Authors: Shao-Chun Cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/723cr7

碩士 === 南華大學 === 傳播學系 === 103 === 　　Scriptures have always between an important venue for the transmission of the beliefs of all major religions since their beginning and Buddhism is of no exception. The earliest written transmission of the Buddhist scriptures started with the palm-leaf manuscript. In the early days of the Republic of China, the style of preaching began its diversification. Magazines and newspapers began to appear. Over time, the needs of the society and readers constantly evolved and Buddhism news industry has also transformed from a religious orientation towards a humanistic Buddhism orientation. The present thesis studied the transition of the Fo Guang Shan "Awakening the World" to the "Merit Times" and investigated how the Buddhist news industry has transformed to fulfill their readers and put the concept of Humanistic Buddhism into practice while maintaining its market survivorship. The present study used secondary data analysis and in-depth interviews for data collection. The source of information included "Merit Times", related websites, newspaper, journals, dissertations, and publications by Fo Guang Shan. The content in ten issues prior to the final edition of the "Awakening the World" in 2000 and samples from 1995 was compared. In addition, the content of the "Merit Times" between 2000 and 2014 was compared. Finally, the content of in ten issues prior to the final edition of the "Awakening the World" in 2000 and samples from the "Merit Times" in 2014 was also compared. Regarding the in-depth interviews, the editor-in-chief, associate editor, and the operational manager of the "Merit Times" were interviewed. The "Awakening the World" was first published in 1957 with Master Hsing Yun as the editor-in-chief. The publication cycle was changed from one issue every 10 days to monthly in 1995. During the period from 1962 to 2000, the "Awakening the World" is a crucial publication of Fo Guang Shan in spreading the information of Fo Guang Shan and bridging the communications between the Sangha and the devotees. The content had strong religious overtones. However, the style of the "Awakening the World" had changed well before the cessation of its publication with increasing coverage for news around the world and social services offered by Fo Guang Shan. It showed increasing care for the society by religion. In April 1, 2000, Fo Guang Shan transformed the "Awakening the World", which was geared towards only its devotees to the "Merit Times", which was targeted to the community. Fo Guang Shan has always been promoting the concept of Humanistic Buddhism and advocated that Buddhism must be close to the human world and daily lives of the people. The content of the "Merit Times" showed that was no longer restricted to the preaching of Buddhism through only traditional cultivation and chanting, but instead, practice the faith by connecting to the society through educational, art and cultural, and charity activities. The reporting of religion-related news had also changed from direct to indirect. The religious overtones of the "Merit Times" had been reduced to increase the acceptance by the general population. In the past, the "Awakening the World" was freely provided to devotees and it was difficult to circulate in all walks of life and therefore, limited its impact. On the other hand, the "Merit Times" was circulated through as a newspaper. Not only that it was easier to obtain and its content had become more diversified. Thus, it was able to penetrate all levels of the society. The present study showed that the secularization transformation of the Taiwan's Buddhist news industry, as illustrated by the transition from the "Awakening the World" to the "Merit Times", did not decrease the religious status, needs, and functional roles of religion in the enlightenment in people's mind with its associated modernization. The appearance of "Merit Times" demonstrated an elegant and clever maneuver of how the essence of humanistic Buddhism could be implemented in people's daily life. "Merit Times" could also provide readers, at times of societal chaos, with spiritual purification and contentment, as well as a source of positive energy to stabilize the society.