P2

CHINA

The source:

3rd century BCE, Emperor Asoka sent missionaries to the northwest of

India (present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan).

The missions achieved great success.

Soon later, the region was a center of Buddhist learning.

The spread of Buddhism

In Central Asia

A

The crossroad:

Silk Road, the widest and most important trade route in the world, at

that time.

Connecting China to:

o South Asia

o Central Asia

o Middle-East

o Europe and Africa

TransAsia trade routes ( 1st century CE)

When the merchants of Central Asia came into this region for trade,

they learnt about Buddhism and accepted it as their religion.

Samarkand (Uzbekistan) and other major trading cities.

With the support of these merchants, many cave monasteries were

established along the trade routes across Central Asia.

Cave Temples of Dunhuang, China

By the 2`nd century BCE, some Central Asian cities like Khotan, had

already become important Buddhist centers.

CONCLUSIONS

Thank to what/who?

o The interaction between the Buddhism spreading routes and the

trade routes (Silk Road).

o So, Buddhism first came to China through the contact with Central

Asians (who were already Buddhists)

1. Spread of Buddhism

Among the Chinese

Chinese expansionism:

1st century BCE, Han Dynasty extended its power to Central Asia.

Trade and cultural ties increased.

As a result:

Chinese people (all over the Empire) learn about Buddhism.

By middle of the 1st century CE, there was already a significant

community of Chinese Buddhists.

With interest in Buddhism growing, comes:

Demand for Buddhist texts.

To be translated from Indian languages into Chinese.

Leading to:

The arrival of translators from Central Asia and India

The first notable one was An Shigao (An Shih-kao):

Lifetime: 148-180 CE.

From Parthia (Persian Empire, or

Parthian Empire, modern-time Iran).

Han Dynasty capital of Luoyang, where he

set up a center for the translation of

Buddhist texts.

He translated 35 texts from the Theravada

and Mahayana schools of Buddhism.

Including works on meditation, psychology,

and techniques of breath control.

He was the first Buddhist missionary

mentioned by Chinese sources.

With a growing collection of translated texts:

Buddhism became more widely known.

A Chinese monastic order was formed.

First Chinese monks (the very first one was said to be An Shigao’s

disciple).

But… first problems arose with the translations.

The first translators:

Had some difficulties. Why?

o Lack of equivalent words?

o Chinese unaware of the very concepts being translated?

o The use of words related with local beliefs/religions?

o All above?

Surely. Consequently:

Chinese began to relate Buddhism with existent Taoism traditions.

Buddhism in China was distancing itself from the original Buddhist

traditions.

It was only later on that the Chinese came to fully understand the

teachings of the Buddha.

Early 3rd century CE:

Yellow Turban Rebellion

Emperor Xian lost control

The institutions were destroyed

by the warlords

Empire divided in many small

states / kingdoms

Despite war and disorder, and the division of China e several states /

kingdoms (3rd century to 6th century):

The translation of Buddhist texts continued.

Actually, during this time, Buddhism gained popularity.

Both foreign and Chinese monks were actively involved in establishing

monasteries and lecturing on the Buddhist teachings.

Among them was:

Dao-an, a Chinese monks (4th century),

was the most outstanding.

Though he had to move from place to place

(because of the political situation:

Wrote extensively.

And lectured extensively.

Collected copies of the translated

scriptures and prepared the first

catalogue of translations.

Invited the famous translator, Kumarajiva, from Kucha.

2. The establishment of

Buddhism in China

Kumarajiva (344-409) was an Indian

Buddhist monk and one of the world's

greatest translators.

With the help of Dao-an's disciples,

Kumarajiva:

Translated a large number of

important texts.

Revised the earlier Chinese

translations.

His fine translations became popular

and helped spreading Buddhism in

China.

Many of his translations are still in

use to this day.

Because of political unrest, Kumarajiva's disciples were later

dispersed.

o This helped to spread Buddhism into other parts of China.

(ironic situation)

Between the 5th and the 6th:

Increase in the political order

o 2 major kingdoms

In the north, a non-Han dynasty

o Tuoba dynasty, Xianbei ethnicity, proto-mongol

In the south, a Chinese (Han) dynasty

In the north (except for 2 short periods of persecution):

Buddhism flourished under the lavish royal patronage of rulers who

favored the religion.

By the latter half of the 6th century, monks were even employed in

government posts.

During this period, Buddhist arts flourished:

o In many caves, especially at Dun-huang, Yun-gang and Long-men.

o All these activities were a sign of the firm establishment of

Buddhism in China by the end of this period.

The thousand caves at Dun-huang, with Buddhist paintings covering the walls and

thousands of Buddha statues inside the caves.

Yungang: many Buddha images of varying sizes carved out of the rocks.

Longmen: many Buddha images of varying sizes carved out of the rocks.

In the south:

Monks continued to translate Buddhist texts.

Continued to lecture on Buddhism.

Wrote many commentaries on the major texts.

Their rulers were devoted Buddhists:

o Constructed numerous temples

o Participating in Buddhist ceremonies

o Organized public talks on Buddhism

o Expanded the earlier catalogue of Buddhist texts

3. The Development of

Chinese Schools of

Buddhism

Tang Dynasty, 7th century, China again unified:

Buddhism reached out to more and more people.

It soon became an important part of Chinese culture.

Had already great influence on Chinese Art, Literature, Sculpture,

Architecture and Philosophy.

By then, the number of Chinese translations of Buddhist texts had

increased tremendously.

The problem now was of a different nature:

How to study the immense number of Buddhist texts?

How to put their teachings into practice.

(Remember the size of China’s population: 80 million!)

What about solutions for the overwhelming amount of texts?

The creation of several schools of Buddhism.

Each school concentrating on certain texts (for their study and

practice.

Tian-tai School

Developed a system of teaching and practice based on the Lotus

Sutra.

It also arranged all the Buddhist texts into graded categories, to

better suit the varying aptitudes of the followers.

Sutra: a written religious teaching originated from Indian spiritual traditions. Lotus Sutra: Sanskrit Saddharmapuṇḍarika-sutra, English Lotus of the Good Law, was one of the earlier Mahayana Buddhist texts. It is regarded by many as a religious classic of great beauty and power. And one of the most important and most popular works in the Mahayana tradition. Mahayana Buddhism: 1 of the 3 main branches of Buddhism. In Thailand, most people follow the Theravada branch.

Chan School (Zen Buddhism)

o Emphasized the practice of

meditation as the direct way of

gaining insight and experiencing

Enlightenment in this very life.

o Introduced to China by

Bodhidharma who came from

India at the beginning of the sixth

century.

o More demanding and difficult,

therefore less popular.

Bodhidharma

Well versed in the Buddhist teachings.

Proficient in meditation.

Not very well known during his lifetime, secluding himself in a mountain

temple.

Later, through the efforts of his successors, his school became one of the

most important schools of Buddhist practice in China.

Pure Land School

o Centered its practice on the recitation of the name of Amida

(Infinite Life).

o Amida Buddha rules over paradise, enjoying endless and infinite

bliss.

o The practice is based on a sermon, which teaches that people

could be reborn in the Western Paradise (Pure Land) of Amida

Buddha if they recite his name and have sincere faith in him.

o Once in Pure Land, the Buddhists are said to be able to achieve

Enlightenment more easily.

o Because of the simplicity of its practice, this school became

popular especially among the masses throughout China.

The most famous statue of Amida Buddha, Kamakura, Japan

4. Xuan-zang's

Pilgrimage to India

6th and 7th centuries

When the various Chinese schools of Buddhism were being

developed

More monks than ever before were making pilgrimages to India.

To study the Buddhist scriptures there.

Among the most famous of these pilgrims was Xuan-zang.

His journey was extremely difficult, as he had to cross high

mountains and deserts and was also confronted by bandits.

He studied at the well-known monastic university of Nalanda

He later travelled widely throughout India.

On his return to China, he brought back a large collection of Buddhist

texts, which he translated during the remaining years of his life.

Because of his profound understanding of Buddhism and his excellent skill

in languages:

His translations marked a new period in Buddhist literature.

o Buddhism + Language/translation = Literature

His travel record gives detailed descriptions of Central Asia and India

and provides an eyewitness account of these regions during his time.

o Buddhism + travelling = sociology/geography/demography

5. Further development

of Buddhism in China

Middle of the 9th century

Buddhism faced persecution by a Taoist emperor.

He decreed:

o The demolition of monasteries

o Confiscation of temple land

o Return of monks and nuns to secular life

o The melting of metal Buddha images.

Although the persecution lasted only for a short time, it marked the end

of an era for Buddhism in China.

Following the demolition of monasteries and the dispersal of scholarly

monks, a number of Chinese schools of Buddhism, including the Tian-tai

School, ceased to exist as separate movements.

They were absorbed into the Chan and Pure Land schools, which

survived.

The eventual result was the emergence of a new form of Chinese

Buddhist practice, with monks:

Practicing Chan meditation.

Reciting the name of Amida Buddha.

Studying Buddhist texts.

The syncretism of the different schools and traditions is the form of

Buddhism that has survived to the present time in Chinese monasteries.

Similarly, Buddhist lay followers also began to practice Buddhism, Taoism

and Confucianism simultaneously.

Gradually, however, Confucian teachings became dominant among

nobles and among the officials who were not in favor of Buddhism.

Confucius: Chinese teacher and philosopher (551-479 BCE) was the founder of the humanistic school of philosophy known as Confucianism, which taught the concepts of benevolence, ritual, and propriety.

Buddhism, generally, continued to be a major influence in Chinese

religious life. (No, it didn’t disappear!)

In the earlier part of the 20th century:

There was an attempt to modernize and reform the tradition in order

to attract wider support.

One of the most well-known reformists was Tai-xu, a monk noted for

his Buddhist scholarship.

Besides introducing many reforms in the monastic community, he also

introduced Western-style education, which included the study of

secular subjects and foreign languages for Buddhists.

In the 60’s, under the People's Republic, Buddhism was almost completely

suppressed:

Many monasteries were closed and monks and nuns returned to lay

life.

Still, this situation didn’t last long.

And Chinese people continued with their Buddhist traditions (and another

religious traditions).

Nowadays, China is a very “modern” country, in the American way:

Over consumption, selfishness, antisocial mindset, futility

Values hardly comparable with Buddhist ones

(Not only in China. All over the world. Thailand and Portugal included.)

To know more:

https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/east-asia.htm

https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/to-himalayas.htm

https://www.culturalweekly.com/cave-temples-of-dunhuang-getty/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road

http://www.tamqui.com/buddhaworld/An_Shigao

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia#/media/File:Median_Empire.jpg

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kumarajiva

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasties_in_Chinese_history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteen_Kingdoms

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_and_Southern_dynasties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xmy06BKOZY

http://www.china-profile.com/data/fig_pop_0-2050.htm

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lotus-Sutra

https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/philosophy-and-religion/buddhism-biographies/bodhidharma

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bodhidharma

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amitabha-Buddhism

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/amida

https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/philosophy-and-religion/buddhism-biographies/confucius

https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/สทัธรรมปณุฑรกีสตูร