Tai Hsui and his humanistic Buddhism

The article characterizes the public and political activities of venerable Tai Hsui, an outstanding representative of the renovation movement of the Chinese Buddhism in the first half of the 20th century. It also describes the Tai Hsui’s Humanistic Buddhism theory. Difficult socioeconomic situation prevailing in the country in the late 19th - early 20th centuries was the impetus for the formation of a new movement -«the renewal of Buddhism». In the course of long reform efforts and actively for seeking the revival of Buddhism, Tai Hsui developed an idea of humanistic Buddhism, which encompassed two related concepts - «Buddhism of human life» and «Buddhism of human society». The new conception meets the needs of secular society and directs people to self improvement.