White Lotus Society, also known as White Lotus Sect or White Lotus Religion, is an important sect of Chinese folk religion during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Regarding the founder of the White Lotus Society, there are various theories in history, with the most widely accepted being the monk Pu'an, who lived during the Southern Song Dynasty. However, in recent years, some scholars have proposed that the founder of the White Lotus Society may be related to Tang Saier.

Firstly, it is crucial to understand the origin of the White Lotus Society. It originated in the Southern Song Dynasty, a period of social unrest and public hardships. Pu'an, in his efforts to save sentient beings, founded the White Lotus Society. The sect's teachings advocated the belief in the Pure Land, believing that through chanting sutras, observing precepts, and practicing meditation, one could be reborn into the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss. The White Lotus Society quickly spread among the people and became one of the largest folk religions in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

However, there are multiple theories about the founder of the White Lotus Society in history. Apart from Pu'an, monks such as Hui Neng from the Song Dynasty and Xuanzang from the Tang Dynasty have also been considered as founders. Recently, scholars have proposed that the founder of the White Lotus Society may be related to Tang Saier.

Tang Saier, also known as Tang Sanzang, was a renowned monk of the Tang Dynasty. He traveled to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures and translated a large number of Buddhist texts into Chinese, having a profound impact on the development of Buddhism in China. Some scholars believe that during his travels to India, Tang Saier may have been exposed to the White Lotus teachings and brought them back to China. Therefore, Tang Saier is considered one of the founders of the White Lotus Society.

So, what is the connection between Tang Saier and the White Lotus Society? Firstly, from a temporal perspective, Tang Saier lived in the Tang Dynasty, while the White Lotus Society originated in the Southern Song Dynasty. Although there is a significant time gap between them, the White Lotus teachings that Tang Saier may have encountered during his travels may have had some influence on the later development of the White Lotus Society. Secondly, from a doctrinal perspective, the White Lotus Society advocated the belief in the Pure Land, which shares some similarities with certain teachings in the Buddhist scriptures translated by Tang Saier. Finally, from the perspective of influence, Tang Saier, as a renowned monk of the Tang Dynasty, had a profound impact on later generations. Therefore, some believe that Tang Saier may be one of the founders of the White Lotus Society.

In conclusion, there are various theories about the founder of the White Lotus Society in history. Although there is no conclusive evidence to prove that Tang Saier is the founder of the White Lotus Society, his exposure to White Lotus teachings during his travels and his influence in the Buddhist community establish a certain connection between him and the White Lotus Society. This historical mystery remains to be further studied and explored.

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