The first Buddhist text dates all the way back second century B.C. Over the course of centuries Buddhism has constantly grown and changed and developed however one sentiment has remained constant, rebirth and the pursuit to end suffering. These sentiments are especially sacred to the practice of Buddhism in China. Buddhism originated in India by Gautama Buddha; as China Highlights points out, it is crucial that the initial teachings of Buddha be understood to appreciate the modern day teachings of Chinese Buddhism or Mahayana Buddhism. (China Highlights 2). Buddha was heir to a kingdom and son of an overprotective and fearful man who tried to keep his sons purity by shielding him from all the evils in the world. During his childhood he …show more content…
Eventually he came to a resolution of eating without indulging and existed very simply, he mediated nearly nonstop until the age of thirty-five when he became enlightened. After his enlightenment he began spreading his teachings and ideas that all could be enlightened. His teachings lived on only by word of mouth for hundreds of years before being written down and shortly after being written down did the scripts make their way to China. Buddhism reached China under the Han Empire largely via the Silk Road. An article discussing pertinent events during the time of the Silk Road describes legends lore that Buddhism was brought to China because of Emperor Mingdi’s dream; “68 AD, Mingdi sent his official Cai Yin to Central Asia to learn more about Buddhism after a vision of a golden figure appeared to him in a dream. The next morning he asked his ministers what the dream meant and was told that he had seen the Buddha - the god of the West. Cai Yin returned after 3 years in India and brought back with him not only the images of Buddha and Buddhist scriptures but also two Buddhist monks named She-mo-teng and Chu-fa-lan to preach in China.” (Silk Road