Buddhism in China DBQ A little before the Tang dynasty there was the Han dynasty where Confucianism was a staple of daily life and government. When the Han dynasty dissolved and the Tang dynasty took authority. Buddhism began to spread widely all over China. Buddhism was met with all types of responses: some saw buddhism as a threat to Confucian family values, while some saw Buddhism as a way to disregard worldly pleasures and luxuries that would only bring them harm, and lastly some mixed on the concept of Buddhism had an issue with the ascetic lifestyle led by its followers. One of the responses to Buddhism in China was that it was thought that Buddhism was a threat to Confucian family values.
During the sixth century, B.C.E. Buddhism commenced to spread into numerous areas around the world, but it was brought into China by the first century C.E. and the responses from the people were highly diverse. Numerous Chinese accepted the new belief that was brought in while others were scornful and thought of it as a belief of the barbarians. After the imperial structure was restored the popularity of Buddhism started to decline and numerous began to criticize the belief. Before the imperial restoration in 570 C.E. Buddhism was an acceptable religion within the borders of China, but after 570 C.E. the reputation of Buddhism began to diminish. However, as the times progressed it was difficult to follow the religion since there was great
The religion of Buddhism first appeared in India during the sixth century B.C.E and its teachings migrated to China by the first century C.E., gradually winning over the Chinese people following the collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E. Buddhist influence continued its expansion in China for several centuries. Throughout Chinese history, China reacted to the spread of Buddhism within its empire in several ways: some valued its policies for their implications in Chinese culture, others condemned Buddhist ideals for not being original to the empire, while many remained indifferent towards Buddhism and its spread. Support for the spread of Buddhism became most evident among Chinese scholars. An anonymous scholar believed that the old Confucian philosophies of China were nothing in comparison to the greatness of Buddhism, even going as far as to compare the sages to the Buddha as swallows to a phoenix (document 3). Additionally, he admires the dedication that the Buddhist monks showed; the monks enjoyed the act of living and inaction, freeing themselves from worldly pleasure.
Buddhism is a religion founded in the 5th century, by Buddha the person who then helped spread it into places like India and much of China and continuing to spread into some parts of Asia. The vast amount of trading routes such as the silk road in Asia helped Buddha and his views spread. This new religion clashed with other great religions such as Christianity causing some’s responses to Buddhism to be alarming. However, these were only a small amount of responses, the greater response to Buddhism in China was very positive with many supporting the idea that Buddha brought which was peace and enlighten.
By calling Buddhist followers Barbarians in an angry tone, it challenges the ideas taught by Buddha, Confucianism protects their culture (Document 5). The emperor of China, Emperor Wu in the year 845 CE would address the people of China showing how the Mandate of Heaven would incorporate Confucian ideas showing these were better for China. Angrily he challenges Buddhism and he orders the people of China to follow the ideologies of the emperor. In China, Buddha was never spoken of before the Han dynasty so because of this no one should follow Buddhist ideals, because it will continue to ruin the Chinese country (Document 7). Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty was seen as a threat to the traditional lifestyle of the Chinese society, and thus receive constant attacks from the emperor and
The authors purpose is to show that Confucius is the a real teaching in China while Buddhism was not and just an idea. Finally, many people did not believe that Buddha had any affiliation with China and the dynasties. Buddha did not speak Chinese nor wear Chinese cultural clothes and he came from India which leads many scholars to believe he did not have an effect. For example, “...to say that Buddha is no more than a cult… did not exist here in ancient time.(Document 4)” The point of view of the author is against Buddhism and does not believe that Buddhism had any correlation with China.
Some reactions were positive while others were negative. When Buddhism was first on the uprise in China, Confucian scholars quickly rejected because they saw Buddhism as being detrimental to the Chinese society since they saw some Buddhist practices as being evil and contravenes some of their Confucian principles as seen in Han Yu's ‘Memorial on Buddhism" (Doc 4). The Confucian Scholars saw Buddha as being "a being a man of the barbarians [basically a barbarian] who did not speak Chinese and who wore clothes of a different fashion". Also, with the Confucian Scholar's perception of Buddhism, they believed that some of the Buddhist practices like the mutilation of flesh being offered to the Buddha must not be allowed to stand. Confucian scholars also didn't appreciate how Buddhist teachings didn't mention anything about China's ancient kings and they also don't like the Buddha's way of dressing since it was against China's laws.
As stated in “Document 19”, five religions that are legally protected and allowed to practice in China are Buddhism, Daoism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam (Overmyer, 2003). China, the origin of Confucianism has never questioned to recognize it as a religion throughout the Chinese history until late sixteenth century. Kang Youwei as one of the representatives of the Hundred Day’s Reform movement in the late Qing dynasty first proposed that Confucianism should be a state religion (Chan, 1954). However, his intention was only to counteract the influence of western culture and protect their Chinese cultural identity. Approximately 100 years later, the controversy was started again proposed by Ren Jiyu who has emphasized the significance
Confucian philosophy is built on the relationships between people in society and the government as well as, having strong moral character. Confucian philosophy had an effect on China and the Asian society as a whole, socially and politically. Everything that Confucius believed had to do with relationships and the way in which people interact. He believed in hierarchical relationships that are based on age, gender, and status. Confucius is the founder of Confucianism.
In 500 C.E. china was still in chaos and some scholars saw that the best way to be in favor of the people was to turn into a complete supporter of Buddhism. And to prove to Chinese people that Buddhism is the most superior they started saying that Confucianism was nothing compared to Buddhism making the Chinese Scholars be in favor of the Chinese people. Lastly, in the early ninth century C.E. a Buddhist scholar by the name of Zong Mi wrote an essay in which he was saying that Confucius and Buddha were both perfect sages. At the beginning of the ninth century the Tang dynasty had restored the central government and they Tang dynasty saw Buddhism has an excuse to not do work. So many scholars who used to be in favor Buddhism now saw that the people had no more power and that if they wanted to stay in power they would have to agree with the emperor.
8). The value that Confucianism finds in man’s relationship with society is reflected in the Analects of Confucius where it is said that “The philosopher Tsang said, ‘I daily examine myself on three points:-whether, in transacting business for others, I may have been not faithful;-whether, in intercourse with friends, I may have been not sincere;-whether I may have not mastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher.’ " These two quotes show where the two ideologies see the world as the Confucians read about these questions one should ask themselves and how they should interact with other people in the world, taking lessons from them, while the Daoist read about how to take the example of nature. However, the two faiths really diverge with two ideals on knowledge and superiority.
Buddhism reached its flourishing peak during the Tang dynasty but was starting to be seen as a “foreign" religion in the Sung dynasty. This brought upon a form of a reform movement known as Neo-Confucianism, which used creative reinterpretation of ancient ideal Confucian institutions. There was a focus on self-cultivation with a lasting importance on intellectual and spiritual reshaping of the tradition. One of the most important parts of Neo-Confucianism was Zhu Xi. This reform created a web of interconnection between family, community, nation and world with the teaching of humility and bringing peace and harmony.
The ancient Chinese philosophy that would most likely create stability in a country is Confucianism. Confucianism beliefs include having a good education and working to chase your dreams. This belief is necessary because it can help stabilize the country by creating educated leaders and hardworking people— Even in lower classes. Confucianism beliefs also include respecting everyone. This belief is necessary because, it can help stabilize the country, by creating less hatred, which could also prevent civil war or political chaos.
Ethnocentrism the belief in the inherent superiority of one 's own ethnic group or culture. OR A tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one 's own. Dichotomy - Division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs. OR Division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups: a dichotomy between thought and action.
Book 6- Comments about disciples and historical figures Book VI continues with the discussion of the disciples and public figures. In particular, Confucius laments the passing of Yen Hui, a disciple who died and whom Confucius evidently held in high regard. To discuss the specifics of Confucian ideology, Book VI draws on specific examples, which are recounted by Confucius to illustrate when something was done correctly or incorrectly. Moreover, it continues in much as the same manner, discussing public figures and disciples and also gives a glimpse of the political situation in the region at the time.
