Spread Of Buddhism Dbq Essay

China has been the home to various religions. At different times different dynasties endorsed certain religions while repressing others. While Buddhism flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasty, it faced opposition from the government during the Song dynasty. Confucianism lost government endorsement during the Sui and Tang but gained momentum during the Song as Neo-Confucianism. Yuan dynasty promoted Islam and Tibet Buddhism but ignored Confucianism. Different rulers sponsored and protected different religions but Confucianism and some form of Buddhism have always been alive in Chinese society from 600 to 1450.

While Buddhism spread through China following the fall of the Han dynasty, many defended its emergence and criticised its absence before Han China fell in 220 C.E. When there was no imperial force to enforce the rules, Buddhism spread; however, after the re emergence of a unified imperial structure in 570 C.E., Buddhism faced opposition.

Brought to China by the first century CE, Buddhism was first founded in the 6th century BCE. The collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE encouraged the conversion to Buddhism. Following the collapse of the Han Dynasty between 220 CE and 570 CE, China faced a period of political instability and disunity. In around 570 CE, the structure and well-being of China was restored under the Tang Dynasty. When the spread of Buddhism in China occurred, many people had both positive outlooks and negative outlooks on the spread of the religion. There were several different responses regarding the spread, one was a negative response due to the foreign idea of Buddhism, they believed it would hurt Chinese society and it differed from their original religion

The response to the spread of Buddhism in China differed according to one’s social position.

After its spread into China during the first century CE, Buddhism received several responses and perspectives over the course of the centuries that followed. Initially, people began to accept Buddhism when it was first introduced because they wanted stability after the collapse of the Han Dynasty during 220 CE as it promoted security. As time went on, people began to see the faults of Buddhism as imperial structure was restored in China during the Sui and Tang Dynasties around 570 CE, along with Confucianism being implemented once again. In between these responses were those who had an intermediate and neutral response to Buddhism, seeing it as equal to other philosophies at the time.

The Chinese people have mixed responses when it came to the Buddhism religion. Most scholars and lower class people, such as peasants, were more likely open to the spread of the religion. Scholars usually were for it because it was a time of instability in the government and they felt it would help make it better. However, the Tang Imperial household felt that the new religion could be a threat to their power. You can group these reactions by the people who were for Buddhism and those who were against Buddhism, and by the date the documents were written. If the document was written between 220 CE-570 CE, the writer will most likely be for Buddhism.

Buddhism and the “Extended” 18th Century in China: A Cultural Analysis of the Rise of Buddhist Governing Policies and the Anti-Patriarchal Modernism of Empress Wu’s Leadership in the Zhou/Tang Dynasty This cultural study will define the cultural aspects of Chinese history through the rise of Buddhist policies and anti-patriarchal modernism in the leadership of Empress Wu during the tang Dynasty. Wu’s leadership defines the increasingly powerful application of Buddhist governmental policies, which defied the traditional patriarchy of Confucian traditions. Empress Wu is an example of a unique cultural adaption of matriarchal power that was forged through Buddhist training Emperor Gaozong. These Buddhist governmental policies helped to provide

Throughout history many universal religions have spread throughout the world. From cities to cities, countries to countries and so on. Christianity and Buddhism are two of the top universal religions that were practiced and spread throughout the early world. A series of events lead to the early and quick spread of Christianity and Buddhism throughout the early world. As turmoil engulfed the Jews in Judea, Christianity arose. The teaching of Christianity began with a Jew named Jesus. At the age of 30, Jesus began preaching the word of God to villagers near the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus preached, significant amounts of groups crowded around him to learn about his teachings, especially when word spread that he had performed acts of healing. Soon Jesus later formed a group of disciples or close followers to help spread his teachings.

The ways in which ideas spread are often difficult to identify, whether concepts spread as a result of political, economic, geographic, or cultural aspects is often unclear. The reason for the spread of Buddhism under Asoka, however, is very apparent. The spread of Dharma, Buddhist practices, under Asoka abounded almost exclusively from his political actions. During his reign, he enforced Buddhist beliefs as laws by restricting actions that undermined Dharma, saw to periodical missionaries with the sole intention of spreading Buddhism, and constructed monasteries and stupas using money from his government.

By 100 C.E., Buddhism founded in India in the 6th century B.C.E was brought to China, gradually winning converts following the collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E., but responses to the spread of Buddhism in China differed. Some faction of people didn’t see the spread of Buddhism as a threat they saw it as what it was, a religion brought to China even though it not an aspect of China,it still should be respected differed from faction of people who saw the spread of Buddhism as barbaric invasion and just overusing China, but to add some factions of people saw Buddhism as a good religion that differed from Confucianism in China but are both valued religions that have similar concepts.

Buddhism held a great appeal for the Wei rulers, as it gave their leadership a legitimate base in a multiethnic society. Buddhism was fostered as a state religion, and strong support provided to Buddhist merchants from foreign nations, thereby sponsoring the spread of Buddhism in China. Along its spread in China, modifications were made to Buddhist scripture and Buddha images by translators and artists to make them more appeal to the Chinese. It makes use of and adapts to local culture and thought, which allows Buddhism to be able to keep its main ideas, but can adapt in the way that it needs to gain followers. The integration of Chinese features into Buddha status provides an example of Buddhism’s merge with the Chinese culture.

The Chinese made no real divisions between what were known as the "Three Religions"; Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. A Buddhist Monk would be expected to know both Confuciust and Taoist writings and a Taoist Priest would be expected to know about Buddhist scriptures and Confusiust writings. The Chinese held all things in a certain harmony. Thus, the Tang Monk, although a Buddhist Monk since his birth, was expected to know poetry, Taoist philosophies, and the writings of Confucius. The fact that he could recite these things was a testament to his good character. The story of Journey to the West has a core of Buddhism, however, that is not the only religion or culture force driving the story. Early in the story, when discussing the origin and punishment of the monkey king, the Jade Emperor is mentioned. Before the influence of Buddhism, the Jade Emperor was the figure of most power and importance in a Taoist world. He was considered the ruler of heaven and Earth. During the beginning of the novel, we see his influence of power as he tried to punish the monkey. However, he is unable to, and is forced to ask the Buddha for help. Only the Buddha prevails in controlling Sun Wu Kong. This simple act shows how quickly China embraced Buddhism over previously dominant ways of thought. Up until this time, the Chinese were not particularly religious, and instead

The effect of Buddhism in China was one of the most profound changes China ever had, as it affected their economy. This time, economy brought about religion; Buddhism came into China through international trade. As South Asian countries came into China, they spread their religion which at that time was majorly Buddhism. To gain favor from the foreign traders, the emperors showed frivolities towards them. “Tang emperors spent huge sums of money on Buddhism” (Dubois, 2011, p. 34). They constructed Buddhist monasteries, excluded monks from taxes and lavished them with other benefits. In one sentence, the emperors at that time, sought to seek the face of Buddhist he monks at the expense of the economy. On a lighter note however, the spread of Buddhism increased the economy of China as it created revenue in trade. “Up till the twentieth century, Tang dynasty was the most cosmopolitan period of China’s history. Politically, emperors had conflicts of interest and so alternatively chose Buddhism or Daoism in succession” (Dubois, p. 34).

This week’s reading discussed the spread of Buddhism to Korea and Japan and its integration into those regions. Prior to Buddhism, the traditional teachings of the indigenous people the veneration of “Kami”. Kami closely relates to spirits. This old tradition is often referred to as “Shinto". Kami are spirits that abide in and are worshipped at the shrines. When Buddhism arrived to japan in the 6th century it was not let in with open arms. At first there was conflict between the new supporters of Buddhism and the indigenous kami practitioners. However, over time these two teachings were seen as complimentary to one another, having the Buddhist deities and kami worshipped together. With Buddhism now integrated within japan, many major schools

“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