Spread of buddhism throughout china DBQ essay
Spread Of Buddhism In China
Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of reality. It is a religion that was founded in India in the sixth century BCE and was brought to China by the first century CE. When Buddhism was brought to China and it gradually won over converts, expanded throughout China, and influenced Chinese culture as we know it. In spite of Buddhism’s dissemination throughout China there were still Chinese people who didn’t convert to Buddhism due to their strong Confucian beliefs. The Chinese had two vastly different points of views about Buddhism.
The first point of view of the Chinese would be anti-Buddhism. This point of view was popular in that of Confucian Scholars and officials at the Tang imperial court. According to document‘s 3, 4, 6 Buddhism wasn’t religion that one should practice. In Document 3 an anonymous Chinese scholar asks readers , “ If Buddhism is the greatest and most venerable of ways , why did the great sages of the past and Confucius not practice it?” The Chinese scholar is saying that if Buddhism is so great why did Confucius or Laozi, the great sage of Daoism not practice Buddhism. This implies that Buddhism wasn’t that great of a religion after all. The Chinese Scholars claims are biased. He writes strictly about the bad things about Buddhism. It is one sided and only answers with what he believes are failings of Buddhism. According to document 4 Confucian Scholar and Tang official believes that Buddhism is no more than a cult. He states,” … Buddhism is no more than a cult of the barbarian peoples spread to China.” The speaker is angered that Buddha was being honored by the ruler at the time (Your Majesty). Buddha was not of Chinese descent, he was foreign and doesn’t deserve for his body to be admitted to the palace. “ Confucius said : Respect Ghost and spirits, but keep them at a distance!”. The speaker expresses that he is ashamed of what Your Majesty is doing and
Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of reality. It is a religion that was founded in India in the sixth century BCE and was brought to China by the first century CE. When Buddhism was brought to China and it gradually won over converts, expanded throughout China, and influenced Chinese culture as we know it. In spite of Buddhism’s dissemination throughout China there were still Chinese people who didn’t convert to Buddhism due to their strong Confucian beliefs. The Chinese had two vastly different points of views about Buddhism.
The first point of view of the Chinese would be anti-Buddhism. This point of view was popular in that of Confucian Scholars and officials at the Tang imperial court. According to document‘s 3, 4, 6 Buddhism wasn’t religion that one should practice. In Document 3 an anonymous Chinese scholar asks readers , “ If Buddhism is the greatest and most venerable of ways , why did the great sages of the past and Confucius not practice it?” The Chinese scholar is saying that if Buddhism is so great why did Confucius or Laozi, the great sage of Daoism not practice Buddhism. This implies that Buddhism wasn’t that great of a religion after all. The Chinese Scholars claims are biased. He writes strictly about the bad things about Buddhism. It is one sided and only answers with what he believes are failings of Buddhism. According to document 4 Confucian Scholar and Tang official believes that Buddhism is no more than a cult. He states,” … Buddhism is no more than a cult of the barbarian peoples spread to China.” The speaker is angered that Buddha was being honored by the ruler at the time (Your Majesty). Buddha was not of Chinese descent, he was foreign and doesn’t deserve for his body to be admitted to the palace. “ Confucius said : Respect Ghost and spirits, but keep them at a distance!”. The speaker expresses that he is ashamed of what Your Majesty is doing and