Shenzuo: A Case of Interaction between Medieval Buddhism and Indigenous Rituals

     Shenzuo originated from the veneration of vacant seats in ancestral temples and burial sites, where decorated empty spaces, adorned with canopies and coverings, were used to accommodate the descent of the deities and conduct religious ceremonies. After Eastern Han period, this practice began to be incorporated into various belief systems such as deity worship, Taoism, and Buddhism. On one hand, they adopted the practice of "preparing an empty seat for the divine", and on the other hand, they developed diverse practices. Therefore, the ritual practices in Buddhism and Taoism were also influenced by ancestor worship, sharing similar ritual resources with other indigenous beliefs.However, Buddhist practices were primarily limited to lay Buddhists, while monks and monasteries were less influenced, highlighting the existence of different practices within the same belief system among different communities.