Spread Of Buddhism In China Dbq Analysis

Buddhism arose in India, and eventually spread to and influenced China after the fall of the Han Dynasty. Political instability also arrived somewhat after the arrival of Buddhism in China, but that stability was reestablished after 570 C.E. China, at the time of their instability, was under a Legalist structure enforced by Qin Shihuangdi, and after the fall of the Qin, it was under the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty arose in 206 B.C.E, unifying China and ruling under a Confucian structure. The responses to the spread of Buddhism in China between 500 B.C.E to the 9th century C.E varied in the author’s outlook as to how Buddhism changed the lifestyle, effected Chinese tradition, and caused a division of political structure.

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Because the Buddha himself was Indian rather than Chinese, he did not dress according to the Chinese fashion (document #4). Han Yu, an elite Chinese scholar who practiced Confucianism, angrily claimed in document #4 that Buddhism should remain in India, and be discontinued in China. This document was written in 819 C.E for his fellow officials and any Buddhist followers with the purpose of making them turn away from Buddhist beliefs, and return to Confucianism. Because people in China were following Buddhism and viewed the Buddha as a teacher, they would most likely adapt to his fashion, turning them away from the style of dress of their culture. Education was very important in China, especially during the rule of the Han Dynasty who followed Confucian rules. Education without Buddhism taught how be a benevolent ruler. The Buddha teaches that eliminating human desire (the root of suffering) will result in a good afterlife, and Zhi Dun claims that in the afterlife, the spirit will be enlightened and achieve nirvana. The Buddha was an elite male, originating from India, with a pessimistic view on life and suffering. He wrote document #1 in 500 B.C.E, at the time of Buddhism’s rising, to teach Buddhist ways for everyone in society. With an instructing and sympathetic tone, document #1 explains the steps required to achieve nirvana. Document #2 states that by following Buddhist ways, one will be granted

Buddhism believed followers abandon family for their teachers. Because Buddhism was centralized on a life immersed in religious teachings, teachers were the main leaders for Buddhists, meaning the emperor’s ability to rule would be demolished, as Buddhists will only look up to and serve as instructed to by their teachers, ignoring the orders of the emperor. The presence of Buddhism would also end up eradicating the form of government in China. Document #6 mentions how Buddhists were not productive to Chinese economy and relied on laborers to feed and clothe them. If Buddhists weren’t working, that implies they spent their whole lives on worship. If they focused on worship so much, it meant there would be no need for a government since their teachers are practically their rulers, and they didn’t really interact with neighboring people. Government wouldn't be needed to maintain control since daily life revolved around worship. Zong Mi believes that Buddhism led to the creation of an organized state. Zong Mi, a Buddhist, Chinese official, wrote document #5 in the early 9th century (after the fall of the Han) with an open and supportive tone, stating that Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism were all respectable practices with the same outcome (an orderly society). This piece was meant to be heard, and written for everyone, to say that these three practices should be viewed with