Dbq Buddhism In China

China was affected tremendously by the spread of Buddhism from 300 to 900 C.E. Buddhism itself was spread to China around 100 C.E by Indian missionaries, and after taking hold during the Era of Division (300s-500s), it became a household religion (particularly the Mahayana and Chan variations . Buddhism’s popularity rose consistently from the late Han dynasty through it’s peak during Empress Wu’s rule in the late 600s and early 700s. But, the religion’s popularity fell sharply during Emperor Wuzong’s reign as the persecution of Buddhism grew common (CONTEXT). The spread of Buddhism affected all classes and people of China in different ways; Chinese peasants were able to worship this religion regardless of education or social position (though

This exception is the religion of Buddhism, which transformed the Post-Classical era and the history of China. Islam spread like wildfire, which was surprising due to the popularity of other Chinese religions at this time, such as Confucianism and Daoism. Trade routes began and facilitated the spread of it and were influential in spreading things other than just goods (Strayer). The diffusion of Buddhism into China is extremely important to Chinese people and Chinese history. Buddhist monasteries sprang up in cities and trade routes, and many people were converted just by immersion in the religion and by just following the crowd. Buddhism was very big for merchants and they had a big role in the spread of Buddhism to less populous villages and towns. While China was leading a massive Buddhist revival, an effort to revive Confucian values was also spreading. This effort was called Neo-Confucianism, which means new Confucianism. This new religious belief system combined Confucian values with Buddhist and Daoist influences. This new way of thinking was popular, and even slowed the Buddhist movement, but Buddhism eventually won, amassing hundreds of thousands of

Buddhist and Chinese scholars defended Buddhism by attempting to prove that Buddhism was as good as other Chinese philosophies. In document 3, an anonymous Chinese scholar utilizes a question and answer organization to drive off the common attacks on the Buddhist belief. The scholar thinks it would be unrealistic to compare Confucianism and Buddhism because the Confucian Classics do not contain everything. He also defended the monks’ celibacy by saying that they had given up their family for “accumulating goodness and wisdom”. As an anonymous scholar, he probably hid his name to escape punishment because most people were Confucians at the time. Likewise, Zong Mi, a Buddhist scholar, was also trying to defend Buddha as an equal to Laozi and Confucius. He said that all three sages lead to an orderly society, and like doc 3, all three philosophies could exist

Buddhism originated in India in fifth century BCE. In Buddha’s first sermon, he states that sorrow arises from craving and in order to stop the craving, one must follow the “Noble Truth of the Way” (Document 1). Later around 350 CE, China was invaded by central Asian steppe nomads. During this time, Zhi Dun, a Chinese scholar and author and friend of Chinese governmental officials, wrote that anyone who follows Buddha teachings and the path of Buddhism, he or she will be “enlightened in his spirit, and then he [or she] will reach Nirvana.” In Zhi Dun’s perspective, he believes that Buddhism will calm down China through its peaceful method of meditation. Due to invasions, disunity was present in the society (Document 2). As a result, many Chinese scholars saw Buddhism established order and control and found it as a way of reviving China. An anonymous Chinese scholar, who published the Disposition of Error in 500 CE, stated that he who follows the Way will gain “goodness and wisdom” in place of “worldly pleasures” (Document 3). While Confucianism was based on the idea of creating a better world, Buddhism focused more on acquiring more knowledge and being good to oneself. The monks who reach enlightenment give up their worldly views because they want peace in the world over their own desire of a wife and

In classical India, the religion of Buddhism was formed in reaction to the strict ways of Hinduism. Many people, mainly lower class, converted to seek a better life and be enlightened more efficiently. This new religion made its way to China where much of its population converted through trade and missionaries. The conversion of Buddhism in China caused many effects of the spread of Buddhism because of its influential impacts from 300 to 900 CE which are influencing the government, caused some people to reject it, and mainly was a unifying force for China. An effect the spread of Buddhism is the influence of its morals on China’s government in 300-900 CE (Doc’s 1, 7). On some occasions Chinese people vehemently rejected Buddhism and rather practice more Chinese driven religion (Doc’s 5, 7). The most impactful effect of the spread of Buddhism is its ability to unite the Chinese in the way of

There were some in the civilization that did not support, nor reject Buddhism but simply tolerated it. In document 3, the anonymous Chinese scholar answer questions about Buddhism that you can assume were frequently asked questions in China during the time period. He defends Buddhism to an extent, yet does not support it. He believes that neither Confucianism nor Buddhism has all the answers. Document 5 tries to make amends with all three religions saying they are the same at the basis. He is attempting to create a compromise so that all three religions can live in peace in China. Zong Mi seems very unbiased at first, however he is a Buddhist scholar so he might be trying to defend Buddhism by saying all these religions do the same things in different ways so just let everyone do their own thing. An additional document to help more effectively analyze the responses to the spread of

“It is often said that, aside from the impact of Marxism on twentieth-century China, the only other time when the Chinese looked beyond their own borders for intellectual sustenance was during the period when Buddhism was absorbed from India” (LaFleur 23). Why did this religion appeal to the Chinese when they disregarded so many other external influences? After all, being tied to the rest of the world by the Silk Road meant they were constantly inundated with novel concepts from far and wide. The answer must lie in how Buddhism interacted with the other faiths already established in the country, namely Confucianism and Daoism (sometimes spelled Taoism). While at first glance it may appear that Confucian China would be the last place

Buddhism was founded in India in the sixth century B.C.E. and gradually moved to China after the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E. For several centuries Buddhism influenced China greatly. During that time to 570 C.E., China experienced an era of political instability and disunity, afterwards which the imperial structure was restored. During the 1st century C.E. the spread of Buddhism from India to China was met with mixed results, in which many Chinese people accepted Buddhism and advocated its principles such as the philosophy and promise of afterlife over the Confucian ideals that were previously instituted, but the truth was that Chinese masses turned to Buddhism for its promises of eternal enlightenment during times of struggle and invasion

The voices of Buddhist peasants are not represented in these documents. This would reveal their true motives of following Buddhism and their teachings from the motives of many Chinese scholars and Emperor Wu, who are of higher powers.

Responses to Buddhism varied depending on the political and religious order in China. In docs 1 and 2, the response was conversion and hope in times of political instability. In docs 3 and 5, the response was to practice not just Buddhism but other religions as well to coexist. In docs 4 and 6, Confucianism was reinstituted and the response to Buddhism was xenophobic and negative because Confucianism was being threatened.

When he says ¨ He will behold the buddha and be enlightened in his spirit” sounds like he's advertising the idea of Buddhism. Documents 3 and 5 advocate for Buddhism to be accepted in China. Document 3 advocates for Buddhism to co-exist with Confucianism through answering questions that confucianists might have in the point of view of a Buddhist. This Chinese scholar was writing this during the early 6th century, while there was no dynasty, anonymously probably because he was afraid of persecution from being a Buddhist (DOC 3). When he says ¨ Confusion classics don't contain everything¨ that proves that he wants people to be open minded to Buddhism, but is still saying Confucianism is okay as well.

Initially, Chinese accepted the views and practice of Buddhism, but after the restoration of the imperial structure in accordance with documents 4 and 6 the Chinese responded negatively to the Buddhism. Han Yu who was a Confucian scholar and official at the Tang imperial court highly disdained Buddhism he states that Buddha was incapable of speaking the Chinese language and that the man belonged to the barbarians and he should not be worthy of worshiping. “Your servant begs to leave to say that Buddhism is no more than a cult of the barbarian people spread to China. It did not exist here in ancient times. ”(Doc.

Buddhism for centuries, has long been influencing the population all over the world, specifically in China . Buddhism first came to China as a result of merchant traders from India. From there it spread within the merchant community. It mainly expanded because it gave people a sense of hope and faith with the chaos they were experiencing from the collapse of the Han Dynasty. It also spread because it covered what Confucianism lacked; a more spiritual and emotional approach that appealed to many people of different classes. It is because of this that Buddhism spread and was able to influence and greatly affect China during the period of 300-900 CE. Buddhism influenced philosophy and moral teachings, kept the Chinese society peaceful and orderly, as well as affecting the overall economy. Buddhism had strong religious teachings that appealed to the lower class with the idea of afterlife and nirvana as well as an emphasis on following your own path that transformed Chinese beliefs causing a large portion of the population to convert (doc’s 1,4). Buddhism kept the Chinese society orderly by reminding all of Buddha’s life and teachings with statues and the influence it had on monks to spread charity and missionary work (doc’s 2,3,6). Buddhism also had an effect on the economy of China. As it spread from other regions, it caused more farmers and silk producers to convert and spread the religion as monks and nuns. (doc 7,5).

There are multiple reasons why and how Buddhism spread in China. I feel that factors like, religion, politics, and social, played a major part in spreading Buddhism throughout China. The factors mentioned are usually a contributor in global changes and has definitely played its part in China’s adapting a new belief. Of course there were other reasons, like economic, that caused the people of China to gravitate to the Buddhist ways. People reconsidering their faith, due to many of life downfalls or the weight of participants in something that’s new, gained recognition and spread due to popular demand. During the political chaos from 221 to 589 that came with the collapse of the Han Dynasty, Buddhism started to become a strong existence in

Buddhist Scriptures talks about a variety of different beliefs. It talks about the physical world not being real, meditation, reincarnation, karma, Buddhist moral teachings, and the four Nobel truths. This paper will summarize those beliefs of Buddhism.