Compare Positive And Negative Responses To The Spread Of The Tang Dynasty Dbq

From the collapse of Han Dynasty in 220 CE to the Tang Dynasty in 907 CE the spread of Buddhism had varying positive and negative responses. From positive responses like economic and political sponsoring from rulers during different periods to negative responses as social dislike and disregard as Buddhism was considered to go against Confucianism ideals and believes and screw with proper Chinese society.

Buddhism first entered China during the Han dynasty, before this Buddhism had not spread far from its country of origin India and was unknown to Chinese this can be seen when Emperor Wu himself says “We have Heard the Buddha was never spoken of before the Han dynasty; from then on the religions of idols gradually came to prominence.”(Doc 7)

It did not exist in ancient times” (Doc 5) and they were surprised it was allowed in the country. The worry of this Barbarian cult spread into china became so enormous that Han Yu to the point that Han You, Confucian scholar and official at the Tang imperial court, on a audience with the emperor spoke of his disagreement with the emperor allowing the procession of the Buddha's finger bone. This was extremely unusual for someone to question the emperor but the scholar clearly felt that the emperor was breaking one of the most important relationship in Confucianism, that one of ruler to subject and by doing this he was breaking the mandate of heaven meaning that disasters could strike the nation.

This kind of Dislike for a foreign religion and fear of them threatening a nation's way of life would not only be seen in ancient China. Later on during the 21st century the same story would repeat itself for Muslims in America, after the 9/11 attacks on the world trade center and the series of Conflicts in the middle east that follow Muslims that follow Islam in America were seen as a danger to the American way of life and just like in ancient China people saw Buddhism as danger to the proper Confucianism way of life, and were frowned

Buddhism gained the endorsement of a series of emperor, plus the Buddhist mentality and response to negativity allowed Buddhism to spread in Chinese society. A great examples of how monks would react was when a monk was asked why Buddha was not mentioned in the great Confucian classic and so the monk answered “All written works need not necessarily be the words of Confucius. To compare the sages to Buddha would be like comparing deer to a unicorn..”(Doc 4) here you can clearly see the tone of relaxation and understanding that the monk uses to respectfully answer the question of the Confucian scholar with utmost respect, at no moment does the monk feels hate because his faith is being questioned and at no moment does he demonstrate hate in his response toward the scholar. The Buddhist peaceful and humble nature on top of teaching that promised happiness and prosperity made it so Buddhist were not disliked by everybody in China. To a point that some of their teaches made it alongside of those of the other perfect mages , “Confucius,Laozi and the Buddha were perfect sages...they differ in their approach...they Encouraged the perfection of good deeds...punish The wicked ones, and reward the good ones” (Doc 6) and this happened under the Tang dynasty that simultaneously at times sponsored and suppressed Buddhism. It was under Emperor Gaozong in the late 600CE that temples of Buddha like the carvings at