More on the impact of Buddhism on the political structure of society in Tang China

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 structure 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 institution of public service, the institute of law) and socio-political groups (emperor, the privileged 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 development of a new socio-political group and a new subject of law in political and legal relations. In the political structure of the Tang society Buddhism occupied a place in the Chinese traditional socio-political groups, which representatives were the carriers of its ideas.