Download Buddhism in China

Buddhism in China
Dylan M Guthrie
A Timeline of Buddhism In China
• 1 Century CE- Two Buddhist Monks from India Arrive in China to translate
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Buddhist literature
2 Century CE- the First Buddhist monasteries were established in China
6 Century CE- 9 Century CE- The Golden Age of Chinese Buddhism under the
Tang Dynasty
7 Century- the decline of Chinese Buddhism after the persecution of 845 CE under
Emperor Wu-tsung
Modern Era- The Buddhist religion is not as popular as it once was in China due to
the general repression of religion in China in recent history
Introduction of Buddhism into China
• Because of international trade throughout Asia, cultural influence began to
affect the Chinese culture
• By the first century CE, Buddhism had begun to take hold in China
• Buddhist texts began to be in demand
• Anshiagao was a notable Buddhist monk from China that was responsible for the influx
of Buddhist texts into China
• The Golden Age of Buddhism in China occurred under the Tang Dynasty
Buddhism Establishes itself in China
• Buddhism was compatible with Taoism and Confucianism
• Stressed atheism, morality and the denial of self
• It was compatible with the intellectual culture within China
• The Tang rulers favored Buddhism because it was extremely popular in
China
• Government began to take control over Buddhist monks and monasteries and gave
them legal legitimacy
• Schools began the formal teaching of Buddhists principles
The Decline of Buddhism in China
• Distrust in Buddhism began to develop because it of its foreign origin
• Buddhism stressed the importance of withdrawing from society, while the
Chinese culture found the family deeply important
• Imperial defeat of the Tang dynasty nearly destroyed institutional Buddhism
in China (9th Century CE)
• The Communist Revolution in China destroyed religion in general
Sources
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Buddhism#Tang_state_repression_o
f_845
• http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/chin_timeline.htm
• http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/east-asia.htm
• http://online.sfsu.edu/rone/Buddhism/Buddhism%20in%20China.htm