China and Buddhism

Ch. 8Pgs. 388-393

The Influence of Buddhism

• “Buddhism is by far the most important gift that China received from India…” pg. 388

• Christianity is to ____________________ as Buddhism is to ____________________

• China became a “launching pad” for Buddhism – spreading Buddhism to Korea and Japan

• Buddhism faded in India, but grew solid roots in much of East Asia

Making Buddhism Chinese

• Initially entered Chinese via the silk road• Han dynasty not accepting of Buddhism – found

barbaric – believed that Buddhism was at odds with Confucianism = felt monk life – secluded and monastic – was dishonorable towards Chinese family values, enlightenment seemed selfish, individual salvation = selfish

• The initial entrance into China, Buddhism was a practice of the foreign merchants and monks living in China

Xuan Kong Monastery, China

Making Buddhism Chinese

• Buddhism grew between 200CE and 800CE – with both elite and popular culture – began with the collapse of the Han Dynasty – violent and fragmented country led people to discredit Confucianism . Buddhism provided comfort – ritual, morality, and contemplation – became a stable aspect of peoples lives in an unstable environment

• Appeal to ordinary people = travelers, place of refuge, provided charity, farmers could borrow seed, sick treated, kids educated

Translation of Buddhism to Chinese Culture

– Dharma = Dao – “the way”– Morality = “filial submission and obedience”– Some Indian concepts were “husband supports

wife,” in Chinese Buddhism became “husband controls wife”

– Took hold in the Mahayana form – deities, relics, many heavens and hells, and bodhisattvas

– Pure Land Buddhism – salvation by faith, not study or meditation – became the most popular Chinese version of the Indian faith

Making Buddhism Chinese

• Sui and early Tang support of Buddhism – Sui Emperor = Wendi = built monasteries at the bases of China’s 5 sacred mountains – used Buddhism to justify military campaigns

• Was never independent of the state – monasteries were required to read Confucian texts – state had control over Buddhism (unlike Christian church in Europe)

Losing State Support – Buddhism’s Decline

• Challenges from the state 1. The wealth of Buddhism – monks that traded/received goods from along the silk road 2. Origin of Buddhism – from India, not welcome, offensive to Confucianism and Daoism – felt Buddhism undermined the Confucian-based family system

• Turning point in the spread of Buddhism = An Lushan rebellion (755-763) = revolt against the Tang, desire to return to “purity” of earlier times – Buddhism became criticized

Losing State Support – Buddhism’s Decline

• 841-845 – Imperial Decrees – monks and nuns forced to return to normal tax paying citizens, monasteries, shrines destroyed, refused to use gold, silver ,copper, iron, gems to construct their images

Buddhism Holds On

• Although persecuted, Buddhism did not disappear – played a role in the reformation of Confucianism during the Song dynasty

• Buddhism at village level incorporated the honoring of ancestors

• Statues included aspects of Confucius, Laozi, and Buddha

How did Buddhism regain strength and become one of the most common religions in SE Asia?