Cultural transformation and localization of Buddhism in China: mechanisms of adaptation of foreign religious discourse in the national cultural tradition

The object of the study is the phenomenon of Buddhism as a transnational religious tradition integrated into the Chinese civilizational matrix; the subject is the mechanisms of cultural transformation and localization of Buddhism in China, including linguistic-semantic practices of translation, mythological reconfiguration of images, artistic reception, regional variations of rituals, and institutional forms of regulation. The focus is on the processes of forming meanings and symbols during intercultural dialogue, the role of translation schools, monastic and secular mediators, artistic practices (, , ), and state normative initiatives in constructing "nationally relevant" forms of religiosity. The empirical basis of the research relies on historical-textual analysis of translation traditions and sources, conferences, and a collection of publications on institutional religious policy. The methodological foundation of the article combines cultural analysis, historical-philosophical reconstruction, a comparative approach, and elements of critical political sociology in interpreting contemporary regulatory practices. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive synthesis of linguistic, mythopoetic, artistic, and institutional perspectives to explain the mechanisms of localization of Buddhism in Chinese culture. For the first time, it is systematically shown that localization is realized through the coordinated activity of various agents and practices: translation strategies that create semantic equivalents; artistic transformations of images that ensure mass visual reception; regional adaptations of rituals that form a plurality of local variants; and normative measures by the state that set the framework for legitimate religiosity. The study demonstrates that these mechanisms act in synergy: artistic and textual practices solidify changes in material and symbolic culture, while institutional support either accelerates or standardizes the processes of localization. For the first time, a comprehensive explanation of the localization mechanisms is proposed, linking linguistic, visual, ritual, and institutional processes into a single analytical framework, thereby expanding theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of religions in cultural transformations.