Buddhism Dbq Essay

Buddhism is an ancient religion that originated from India and gradually traveled to China through cultural diffusion . Many of the Chinese people liked Buddhism, which was also referred to as a “barbaric religion” according to the traditionalist. The Chinese saw their society as sophisticated and superior to any of the new ideas coming from the advance trade routes throughout their country known as the Silk roads. Due to the fall of the Han Dynasty and it’s chaos that it created, Buddhism was a peaceful distraction that gave people optimism when their government failed because of corruption and political disunity. Before Buddhism religions such as Daoism and Confucianism were popular in China, because of Buddhism, followers of the traditional

In document #6, Tang Emperor Wu (845 A.D) expresses his dislike for Buddhist saying “ We have heard the Buddha was never spoken of before the Han Dynasty; from then on the religion of idols gradually came to prominence.” (Doc 6, Wu) The purpose of his writings was to expose Buddhism's faults, and the belief of China being better before the Han dynasty fell and Buddhism took shape. Traditionalist, who read pieces such as the 819 Confucian scholar Han Yu would agree that Buddhism ruined China’s sophisticated ways. Being an official of the Tang imperial court, Han Yu was very influential. “ The Buddha’s sayings contain nothing about our ancient kings and the Buddha’s manner of dress did not conform to our laws” (Doc 4, Yu) By exposing how Buddha changed Confucian society, Yu was trying to recruit others to the Confucians cause. Before Han Yu around 500, an anonymous Chinese scholar asked “ If Buddhism is the greatest and most venerable of ways, why did the great sages of the past and Confucius not practice it?” ( Doc 3, Anonymous) To this author the practices of Buddhism were foreign compared to the classic Confucian writings in which they most likely followed. The

Better known as the Silk trade routes, these advance system of trade brought Buddhism to China. By the 10th centuries Buddhist monotsraties and artwork were seen throughout China, similar to the image in document 7. The large amount of Buddhist influences helped the religion become something, it would never be seen as before; Chinese. Coming from India to China was a large cultural change. For one, China had a religion that governed over all called Confucianism, which was used in government and a way of life. A famous Buddhist scholar during the 9th century named Zong Mi, wrote “ All three teachings lead to the creation of an orderly society and for this they must be observed with respect.” ( Doc 5, Mi) His writings were for the people of the Tang dynasty, who favored his opinion. He mentions society, which leads the reader to believe the religion is widespread and having a effect on society. Unlike the next document which was written earlier around 221- 206 B.C.E the author of this piece was captured and held in the capital. He was an Asian monk by the name of Kumarajiva, who wrote about the perks of Buddhism in China. “ If there are persons who accept, uphold, read, and recite the sutra and understand its principles,... they will be received into the hands of a thousand Buddhas, who will free them from all fear and keep them from falling into the evil paths of