My PhD research project focuses on the relationship between Buddhism and kingship in the Northern Liang (北涼; 397-460), a regional regime located in the Hexi Corridor in the Sixteen Kingdoms period. During its brief existence, Buddhism flourished in the area and showed profound influence on the later development of Chinese Buddhism. While the ruling family, Juqu Mengxun 沮渠蒙遜 (368–433) and his sons, engaged closely with Buddhism during their reigns, their attitude was not consistent. I am intrigued by their inconsistent, sometimes paradoxical attitudes toward Buddhism. In my dissertation, I seek to investigate how each ruler of the Juqu family understood Buddhism and specify the factors that shifted their perspectives. As nomadic rulers who established the kingdom between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, the Juqu family’s interactions with Buddhism shed light on how the non-Han rulers of the time identified themselves with various cultural traditions. Moreover, the case of Northern Liang offers insights into the development of the relationship between Buddhism and kingship in Chinese history.
My primary sources include historical texts such as The Book of Jin, The Book of Wei, The Book of Song, and The Supplement to the Collected Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms. In addition, I consult records in Buddhist hagiographies, as well as sūtras and other Buddhist texts translated at the time. As the Northern Liang kings ruled in Hexi and Turfan, I also work with excavated materials from the region, including manuscripts, stele inscriptions, and the extant mural paintings in the cave temples.