Xuanzang Dharma Master Sparknotes

During the Han Dynasty, Buddha’s teachings were introduced to China by Central-Asian traders and received little support from the Han dynasty rulers. However, after the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the country was fragmented. While northern China was dominated by invaders from the borderland and steppes, southern China was ruled by continuous “Chinese” dynasties. As a result, Buddhism appealed to people who felt baffled by the loss of an anticipated and durable society. Subsequently, in 581 CE, Sui emperor Wendi reunified China with this new religion and gained state support, therefore further spreading Buddhism. It was not until the Tang Dynasty did the Chinese rulers realize the threat Buddhism had posed on them. Consequently, during the

Pearl S. Buck’s character, Wang Lung, is one who is often acting in immoral ways, but his situation, along with his thoughts, contribute to why the audience can sympathize with him. Wang Lung lives in rural China in the early Twentieth century where certain actions, such as selling children, is acceptable within his culture. His moral ambiguity fluctuates as he conforms to societal views or acts within acceptable bounds in society’s current standards. Throughout The Good Earth, desperate situations cause distressed individuals to become irrational and act immorally. This thematic notion is evident during the most dramatic scenes in the novel.

Emperor of China; Self Portrait of K’ang-hsi should not be read as a textbook or as a completely true historical

It is believed that Buddhism spread to China through the Silk Road. When the Silk Road opened in the 2nd century BC, missionaries and pilgrims spread Buddhism to China. Chang Ch’ien was recorded to first bring Buddhism to China when he heard about India and Buddhist beliefs on his way back to China. In about the 1st century BC, a Buddhist community is said to have been living in China. But the most well-known story of the spreading of Buddhism is when Han emperor, Mingdi, had a dream about Buddha in 68 CE and sent Cai Yin, his official to learn more about it. Meanwhile, Mingdi learned from his ministers that he had seen Buddha, “the God of the West” in his dream. After 3 years Cai Yin came back to china with Buddhist teachings and

The historical classic, “The Good Earth”, revolves around the life of Wang Lung, introducing the average Chinese farmer on his wedding day to the slave O-lan. Together, the newly married couple care for Wang Lung’s father and farm the land, prospering from the fruits of their labor. Their early life continues to bring great fortune when they are able to purchase land from the House of Hwang, who O-lan served, and when their first two children are born sons.

The Europeans who dreamt of conquering Asia were under the impression that Asia was a blank slate, isolated with no history and traditions. However, that is their misconception for Asia from 500-1500 CE “was a vast world of contrast… [and] bewildering variety” thriving with many empires, capital cities, religions, and cultures (Gordon, 177). Because of this, Asia then can be classified as a compilation of many key eras such as the Medieval Age in China and the Golden Age. Such prosperous times for Asian states and empires are to be accredited to the notable networking in Asia at this time period. People who utilized the establishment of fundamental institutions such as the religions of Islam and Buddhism and various modes of trading and traveling were able to facilitate the diffusion of ideas and cultures therefore indirectly contributing to the overall connection of Asian states and empires during 500-1500 CE.

Before this assignment I never knew anything about Asian history until I got to this class and received this assignment. I can’t believe how much Asian history influenced the way we as Americans look at history now. In Steward Gordon’s When Asia Was The World, I found the story of Xuanzang very interesting. Xuanzang was a Buddhist monk who traveled all over to learn more about Buddhism until he became confused and decided to go to the center of Buddhism, along the way he faced many difficulties, he decided to go back to China and share what he had learned.

Buddhism was a powerful force in politics and in everyday life. It was a tool of the ruling class to appease the people in times of hardship - such as the political disunity in between dynasties. However, when the times changed, Buddhism was also blamed for much of the trouble, and for edging out the much more strict doctrine of Confucianism. Most of the documents presented indicated a spread nonetheless of Buddhism among the people. Additional documents needed to further evaluate the response to Buddhism should be from a source of a slightly lower class, such as a merchant, or a view from a convert to Buddhism - since most views seem to be from Confucian

The far-reaching and appealing aspect of Buddhism allowed some Chinese Buddhists to travel Asia to learn about its peoples and origins. For example, a Chinese Buddhist, Faxian, who traveled through South Asia to learn more about the religion collected many original texts and translated them back in China. He described “ They still followed the course of the P'oo na river, on the banks of which, left and right, there were twenty monasteries, which might contain three thousand monks; and (here) the Law of Buddha was still more flourishing.” (Doc E) This description is about the importance of Buddhism was to South Asia and its power to overcome so many barriers and universalize South Asia. This is also shown in a description of by another Chinese Buddhist by the name of Xuanzang. His reflection of his time in South Asia for the Tang emperor describes a unique, but totally different world from that of China. It says,”Now Buddha having been born in the western region and his religion having spread eastwards, the sounds of the words translated have been often mistaken, the phrases of the different regions have been misunderstood on account of the wrong sounds, and thus the sense has been lost. The words being wrong, the idea has been perverted.” (Doc G) By this Xuanzang means how the original word of the Buddha has been so distorted by the language barrier that its is almost impossible to understand what he truly meant when it is

Elliott is a notable researcher of Qing 1644-1911 China who has some expertise in the historical backdrop of its Manchu originators, In Emperor Qianlong: Son of Heaven, Man of the World, Elliott has turned his extensive semantic and chronicled abilities to a life story of the enduring Hongli 1711-1799, who from 1735 until the point when 1795 ruled as Emperor Qianlong, managing a time of amazingly quick social, scholarly, statistic what's more, natural change, Qianlong's mind boggling identity and rule are analyzed once again in Elliott's investigation. There are numerous cases of this with tests of these sonnets by Qianlong himself all through the book and pictures of himself, generally in a purposeful publicity style however. The book gives an awesome short clarification of how Qianlong ruled the country and how he lived in his home life. It points of interest his spouses and the amount he loved them and what he did with them on their many voyages together over the Chinese farmland. It really expounds the amount Qianlong was influenced by the passing of his first spouse and how it may have had an effect on how he led from subsequently.

Wu Zhao, the first female emperor of China, rose to power during the Tang Dynasty and her active role with Buddhism fabricated a perpetual impact in the Chinese society as a whole. There is no doubt that Buddhism and the Tang administration, under Wu’s reign, formed a symbiotic relationship with one another. She is considered to be one of the most prominent advocators of the religion during the era. Her efforts to spread of Buddhism and the monetary support help Buddhism to expand throughout the people significantly, which provide the religion another source of financial income to spread even further. Regardless of Empress Wu’s intention, she has furnished the religion in numerous ways, but what did she receive in return? This proposes

During the centuries of disunity in China, the Chinese supported and defended Buddhist influence from India. An anonymous Chinese scholar (like many other Buddhist scholars) created a “guide” for Chinese Buddhists to defend against the false suspicions of Chinese critics (Doc 3); however, since the author is anonymous, it is unknown whether he is as credible as other Chinese scholars such as Zhi Dun. Zhi

When reading a Record of Buddhist Kingdoms, by Fa-hsien I recognized a recurring theme. Fa-hsiens travels, through different kingdoms provides the reader with insight on the life and teachings of Buddha, and the tenets of the religion he founded. Although I recognized many themes, I will reflect on three that I found insightful, and inspiring. They are self-denial, Kindness to strangers, and sacrifice.

It is said that history is shaped by the lives of great men.  Great men are leaders.  They bring about change; they improve the lives of others; they introduce new ideas, models, and theories to society.  Most of the world's religions were founded, developed, or discovered by great men.  Two particular religions - Christianity and Buddhism - developed in different parts of the world, under different circumstances, and in different social atmospheres.  But each religion is based upon the teachings of a great man.  When one compares the life of Buddha with the life of Jesus, one finds that the two share many things in common.  This essay aims to compare and contrast the lives of Buddha1 and Jesus in two key areas:  conception and birth.

He was the Emperor during East Han, Ming was his name.He had a dream about Buddha.And that the very next day he ordered some his officials to travel west in an attempt to find what had caused his vision. The officials then travel to the west and eventually came upon two Buddhist monks with two white horses. The monks carried with them a picture of Buddha and their horses were carried with holy Buddhist scriptures. The Chinese officials invited the monks to return with them to China 's capital Chang An and introduce Buddhism to the emperor.