Download Spread of Buddhism in China DBQ

SPREAD OF BUDDHISM IN CHINA DBQ
Notes: Spread of Buddhism in China
• Emerged during Han Dynasty (small cult)
• Began to spread during Era of Warring
States (220-589 C.E.)
• Gained state support during Sui & Tang
Dynasties (Emperor Wendi)
• Lost state support after Lushan Rebellion
(755-763 C.E.)
• Tang Dynasty directed action against foreign
religions (841-845 C.E.)
Document Summaries
• DOC 1: A summary from Buddhist tradition of the
Buddha’s first sermon where he laid out the Four Noble
Truths. (5th c. BCE)
• DOC 2: Chinese scholar Zi Dhun states that whoever
follows the Buddha’s teachings in this time of upheaval
(nomadic invasion 350 CE) will achieve nirvana
• DOC 3: An anonymous Chinese scholar defends
Buddhism against criticism of Confucianists using
simple logic (c. 500 CE)
Document Summaries (cont.)
• DOC 4: Confucian scholar/Tang official Han Yu
ridicules Buddhism as a “cult of barbarian peoples” b/c
it has no connection to Chinese history. Warns people
of believing Buddha’s lies (819 CE)
• DOC 5: Buddhist Scholar Zong Mi seeks to create
compromise b/t Confucianism, Daoism, & Buddhism
pointing out that they are all the same in creating an
orderly society (9th c. CE)
• DOC 6: Tang emperor Wu rails against Buddhism
likening it to a poisonous vine that as it spreads damages
Chinese culture, values, and its economy. (845 CE)
POV Summaries:
• DOC 1: Since this is a doc taken straight from sacred
texts, it can be assumed that other Buddhists shared the
same beliefs.
• DOC 2: Author is accepting of Buddhism because it
provides an idea of an afterlife in a time of violence and
upheaval in China, or he may be trying to gain favor
with the steppe nomads who have invaded China (who
are Buddhist)
• DOC 3: As an upper class Chinese scholar it is odd that
he would choose Buddhism over Confucianism, but it
can be assumed that this is his honest opinion because
he is speaking anonymously.
POV Summaries (cont.):
• DOC 4: Author tries to tap into nationalist feelings of
identity & tries to lobby for a return to Confucianism
which he would obviously want as a Confucian scholar.
• DOC 5: Zong Mi is a Buddhist scholar at a time when
Buddhism lost state support. He may be trying to
defend his faith by pointing outs its similarities with
other Chinese religions.
• DOC 6: Since the Tang Dynasty was starting a period
of decline this may be an attempt by the emperor to use
Buddhism as a scapegoat for his dynasty’s troubles.
Additional Document(s):
• ADD. DOC #1: One that shows the actual
numbers of converts to Buddhism during this
time (i.e. a graph) would be useful in determining
whether or not the worries of the author in docs
against Buddhism were justified.
• ADD. DOC #2: A slightly lower class
perspective of the spread of Buddhism , from
possibly a merchant, or a view of a convert to
Buddhism since most views in the DBQ seem to
be from Confucian scholars.