Chinese Buddhist theologian Huiyuan had in 402 organized a group of monks and lay people into a Mahayana sect known as Pure Land Buddhism, the Pure Land being the western paradise of the Buddha Amitabha.

According to this belief, the cosmos contains many Pure Lands, in each of which dwells one Buddha.

He founds a monastery on Lushan in Jiangxi province and writes the text On Why Monks Do Not Bow Down Before Kings in 404.

In his book he argues that although the Buddhist clergy should remain independent and undisturbed by politics, the Buddhist laymen nonetheless make good subjects under monarchs, due to their fear of retribution of karma and desire to be reborn in paradise.