The Adulators and the Adulated: Religious Patronage of a Regional Ruler in Early Tenth-Century China

This article explores the signi cant role played by religious groups in the legitimation of the Former Shu founded by Wang Jian in the chaotic early tenth century. Whereas the Daoist priest Du Guangting attempted to legitimate the regime on religious grounds, the Buddhist monk Guanxiu employed his literary talent to depict the military ruler as a savior in a tumultuous age. This article also suggests that the Wang Jian‘s religious patronage was pragmatic; he used religion to justify his rule but never lessened tight control over religious groups.