The Monastic Rescue Crew in Chongqing during the Sino-Japanese War (1940–1945)

抗戰下的重慶僧侶救護隊

Prof. KAN Cheng-Tsung (Fo Guang University)

Time: 23. April (Thursday), 2026, 16:00-18:00 CET

Venue: Raum KWZ 0.602

Language: Chinese

Abstract

During the War of Resistance against Japan, Chinese Buddhist monks actively participated in national salvation efforts, thereby transforming the negative image of corruption and passivity that had been associated with Buddhism since the late Qing period. After the August 13 Battle of Shanghai in 1937, the Shanghai Monastic Rescue Team was established under the leadership of Master Hongming. Comprising 120 members, the team carried out rescue operations amid intense gunfire and bombardment and suffered heavy casualties. Owing to a lack of funding and the unjust imprisonment of Master Hongming, the team was dissolved in 1938. In March 1940, Master Leguan, who had previously participated in the Shanghai rescue team, initiated the establishment of the Monastic Rescue Crew of Ciyun Monastery in the wartime capital Chongqing, which was later reorganized as the Chongqing Municipal Monastic Rescue Crew. The team consisted mainly of young monks who, after receiving medical and basic military training, undertook air-raid rescue operations in the Nan’an district of Chongqing. Carrying banners bearing the character “Buddha,” they rushed to rescue sites without waiting for the all-clear signal. Between 1940 and 1941 alone, they were mobilized more than 2,000 times and rescued over 3,000 wounded civilians. Their funding relied primarily on ritual services conducted by monasteries, and their living conditions were austere. The team continued its work for more than five years, until the victory of the War, becoming the longest-lasting and most effective monastic rescue organization of the period. Their efforts constitute a remarkable chapter in the history of Buddhist patriotism and humanitarian courage.

抗戰時期，中國佛教僧侶積極投身救國，扭轉了清末以來佛教腐敗無為的負面形象。1937年「八一三淞滬會戰」後，上海率先成立「上海僧侶救護隊」，由宏明法師領導，共120人，在槍林彈雨中搶救傷患，犧牲慘重。後因經費斷絕及宏明法師蒙冤入獄，該隊於1938年解散。1940年3月，曾參與上海救護隊的樂觀法師在重慶慈雲寺發起成立「陪都慈雲寺僧侶救護隊」，後改組為「重慶市僧侶救護隊」。全隊以青年僧侶為主，經醫護與軍事訓練後，承擔重慶南岸地區的空襲救護任務。他們手持「佛」字旗幟，不待警報解除即奔赴現場，僅1940至1941年間出勤兩千餘人次，搶救傷患逾三千人。經費主要靠寺院經懺維持，生活清苦。該隊持續運作五年餘，直至抗戰勝利，成為歷時最長、成績最顯著的僧侶救護組織，書寫了佛教界愛國護教、英勇救難的珍貴篇章。

Short Bio

Kan Cheng-Tsung (b. 1961, Chiayi, Taiwan) is Professor and Chair of the Department at Fo Guang University. He received his PhD in History from National Cheng Kung University and previously served as Executive Director of the Archives of the Buddhist Association of China (Taiwan), as well as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts and Hsuan Chuang University. His research focuses on the history of Taiwanese Buddhism, modern East Asian Buddhist interactions, and the relationship between Buddhism and popular religion. He is the author of numerous books, including One Hundred Years of Taiwanese Buddhism (1999), The Buddhist Association of China in Taiwan (2009), Buddhism under Japanese Rule in Taiwan (1895–1945) (2011), Guanyin Belief: Local and Transregional Dimensions (2018), and East Asian Buddhism in the Late Qing and Republican Period (2025).

闞正宗

出生：1961，台灣嘉義市

學歷：國立成功大學歷史學博士

經歷：中國佛教會檔案室副執行長、法鼓佛教學院兼任助理教授（2009-2014）、玄奘大學兼任助理教授（2011-2014）、佛光大學副教授兼系主任（2019-2021）、佛光大學教授（2021-），現任佛光大學教授兼系主任（2026-）

專長：臺灣佛教史、近代東亞佛教交涉史、佛教與民間宗教交涉研究

著作：《臺灣佛教一百年》（1999）、《重讀臺灣佛教─戰後臺灣佛教（正、續編）》（2004）、《臺灣佛寺的信仰與文化》（2004）、《臺灣佛教史論》（2008）、《中國佛教會在臺灣─漢傳佛教的延續與開展》（2009）、《臺灣日治時期佛教發展與皇民化運動──「皇國佛教」的歷史進程（1895-1945）》（2011）、《觀音信仰的本土與外來》（2018）、《南洋「人間佛教」先行者—慈航法師海外、臺灣弘法記（1910-1954）》（2020）、《晚清民國東亞佛教研究》（2025）等。