Dbq The Spread Of Buddhism In Ancient 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

imperial division expecially, these years of psycological uncertainty people found comfort and hope in religon. Document one, written and preached by the Buddha himself, discucsses “The Four Noble Truths”, which define the existance of human kind. The Noble Truths claim by releiving the sorrow, hatred, and craving for power the Chinese population could releive the stress of the declining period of stability in China. People found comfort in the promises of peace from the Buddha, which is what the public was endavoring to get. Document 2 by Zhi Dun also proves this, he explains that trusting and following the Buddhism practices, you will be promised enlightenment and granted entrance to Nirivana during your afterlife. This was written in 350 C.E., after the collapes of the Han Dynasty, by a confidant of Chinese aristocrats and high officials, Zhi’s perspective most likely is impacted by the people who confided in him, proving people of high power could have also trusted in the religon of Buddhism. All classes and ages of the Chinas public most likely seeked comfort found in Buddhism during this time period. A womens voice would be fitting to include in these doccuments if applicable, to hear a females viewpoint of Buddhisms expansion into China.

As the years went on, and China reunited under Tang Emporer Wu, the opinions toward Buddhism seem to reflect more hatred, digust, and fear compared to before.

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

power.

Finally the third response to the Buddhisms extensions into Chinas provinces was the discussion, commonly between scholars, about conflictions that express more of a neutral viewpoint. For instance document 3 written by a anonymous Chinese scholar gives the impression that they beleive Buddhism is evil, he questions things like why is Buddhism so great if it was never practiced by high powers of the past or Confucian himself. The Scholar also questions why the greatest part of life, “the continuation of ones line” in neglected for the pleasure of the religon. On the other hand this author also defend Buddhism explaining comparisions between Confucian and Buddha are too unlike one another to be compared fairly and that “goodness and wisdom” are earned in exchange for “wordly pleasures.” Document 3 expresses the unecessary conflicts that occur between Chinas constantly evolving religons. That although you can question and attack Buddhism easily, its just as easy to attack Confuicanism and defend Buddhism. Lastly Document 5 written by Zong Mi, a leading Buddhist Scholar does not discuss or defend Buddhisms superiority over any other religon. He simply discusses that “Confucious, Laozi, and the Buddha were perfect sages.” Each religon rose, fell, and evolved according to the current needs of the public. All shared common goals, only differing in their steps to embark on their journey to after life rewards. Zong Mi’s neutral response to the conflicts show that some people were unaffected by the spread, they knew that times change, people change, and what may be popular now, might not be tomorrow.