Chinese Diaspora Temples: Rethinking Early Buddhist Practice in the United States

The temple built by the Sze Yap association in San Francisco in 1853 is frequently cited as the first Buddhist temple in the United States. This paper examines the uncritical application of the syncretic Three Teachings framework, a presumed blend of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, and its influence on the study of early Chinese Buddhism in the United States. By reexamining the institutional roles of district associations (huiguan), such as the Sze Yao association, and other mutual aid organizations, this paper highlights the underappreciated role of smaller, privates temples in introducing Buddhism to the United States. This paper attempts to shed light on the Chinese pioneers who enshrined the first Buddhist icons in privately-owned temples, including the temples of Li Xiyi and Li Putai in San Francisco, Wong Nim’s temple in San Bernadino, and the family complexes of the Wong clan, all of which enshrined images of the goddess Guanyin.