Dbq The Spread Of Buddhism In Ancient China

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Recommended: Responses to the spread of Buddhism in China

Buddhism was brought to China approximatly 600 years after it’s creation. Buddhism recieved many mixed responses to its expansion that constantly were changing as time went on. With Buddhisms height during China’s period of instability and disunity, people found comfort in its practices and preachings. Despite Buddhisms expansion into all of Chinas nine provinces, influencing and captivationg the intrests of inumerable amounts of people, there was still countless mumbers of people who had deeply rooted detestation for the religon that increased as time passed, and peole who discussed of its conflictions with long used confucious beleifs. During the early years of Buddhisms creation and spread to China, the Religon seemed to be more publicly accepted. In the course of the …show more content…

Document 4 by Han Yu, a leading Confucian Scholar and official of the Tang imperial court, warns the public to be cautious of the captivating, controling faith. His point of view expresses worry and the beleived evils of Buddhism most likely also felt by the other Tang imperial court memebers. Han Yu claims “that Buddhism is no more thant a cult of the barbarian peoples” and that the religon conflicts with Confucian beliefs. He discusses that the Buddha causes people to do extreme things. Han Yu’s approach to the emporer in this document is very persuasive that Confucius beliefs are the only beliefs, all other faiths are inferior. Document 6 by Tang Emperer Wu expresses the troubles of Buddhism, including it “poison{ing} the customs of our nation.” He seems to conclude the idea that Buddhism is more harmful to the public than it is good and expresses concern for his followers. This shows the governments dissapproval of Buddhist practices, that have evolved, most likely because its large following has caused a threat to governmental

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