In many novels, there will be such a scene: a soldier, a hero and a robber kill someone. As long as they become monks, the government will not pursue them. This is just a novel, but it can be made up from life. If so, wouldn't the temple become a shelter for the wicked and villains?
In fact, officials have arrested people in temples since ancient times. Which is the biggest, the abbot in prison or the arrested monk, such as Fang Yizhi, who fought against the Qing Dynasty and regained his sight? It's always the government Becoming a monk is not as easy as in the novel. Just cut your hair, shave your beard and put a scar on it. In order to become a monk, ancient monks had to obtain an edict issued by the imperial court or the government, and there was a strict declaration and review procedure or review system, because the edict not only recorded the legal status of their families, but also exempted them from tax corvee. Because every monk has identification, it is not so easy to get away with it.
So back to the beginning, why do fugitives still prefer to go to temples rather than Taoist temples?
This must start with the prosperity and popularity of Buddhism and Taoism in China. Buddhism talks about the afterlife, reincarnation, putting down the butcher's knife, caring for all beings and being kind to others. You can give alms everywhere, develop Christians, and even practice at home. There are Buddhas everywhere, which are first-class in inheritance and have a solid mass base. Naturally, many people donate to build temples.
Taoism, on the other hand, talks about this life, longevity, roots and bones. Buddhism is not easy to pass down and easily exposed. The mass base is still weak and Taoist temples are scarce, mostly in mountainous areas. In terms of quantity, Buddhism has completely defeated Taoism, and the government has to investigate, so there are many clues. It is better to hide in a temple than in a Taoist temple.
In addition, the government checks people, of course, first check hotels, then check houses, and finally these places are temples and Taoist temples. Ancient people were not as advanced and developed as modern people, and face recognition was not so good. Not all the monks in the temples are really vegetarian and chanting Buddha's heart, but there are also some "vulgar roots are not broken", and one or two "braided" fake monks have been collected, and their hair and beard have been pulled out.
From the perspective of volume, private houses, hotels and temples are obviously large in territory, with few miscellaneous people, less nosy and many hiding places. So, can fugitives not like temples?