To explore the pivotal role in the growth of Buddhism in China played by a female Dowager empress during the Northern Wei dynasty, there is a recent book by Stephanie Balkwill titled
Women Who Ruled China: Buddhism, Multiculturalism, and Governance in the Sixth Century.
Shanxi is an ancient province in China. It has the most ancient sites in China, as this is where you see the growth and projection of Buddhism as a state religion by the Northern Wei emperors and the sole female emperor of China, the Tang emperor Wu Zetian.
The early Tang emperors tried to stem the growth of Buddhism in favour of Taoism but failed as Buddhism took root in the hearts of the citizens as Buddhism gave them hope there is life in the afterlife, resulting in a happy coexistence of both religions with Confucianism.
A guided tour is best. The stops are leisurely. Each major site takes about a 2 to 4-hour journey by road. The hotels are good. We are staying at the Kempinski for 2 nights in Taiyuan city.
Winter is best, especially immediately after the Chinese New Year holidays when domestic tourists are down to almost zero.
Lwh @ Yungang Grottoes
13 March 2025