Transcript Period 3 - China and Buddhism

China and Buddhism
Ch. 8
Pgs. 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?