What were the conditions in society that led to the spread of Buddhism in China?
for example was it because of desease,poverty..etc |
Request for Question Clarification by
livioflores-ga
on
10 Dec 2005 08:06 PST
Are you asking about the ancient China?
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Clarification of Question by
nawara-ga
on
10 Dec 2005 09:12 PST
yes its on ancient china
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Clarification of Question by
nawara-ga
on
10 Dec 2005 09:52 PST
"It was the period from the dawn of the later Han dynasty (25-220 CE)
to the fall of the Western Chin dynasty (265-317 CE) to the Huns that
Buddhism was introduced into China by immigrants from Persia, Central
Asia, and India."
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Clarification of Question by
nawara-ga
on
26 Dec 2005 12:02 PST
I was looking for reasons that made the Chinese accept Buddhism.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
26 Dec 2005 14:58 PST
nawara-ga,
Wikipedia has a good, straightforward and pretty scholarly write-up on
the history of Buddhism in China. It says that Busshism gained
strength when the ruling Han dynasties were replaced by ethnic groups
without a strong Han influence, and without, therefore, a strong
proclivity towards Taoism. This left the door open for Buddhism to
get a strong foothold, especially in the North:
=====
...A reason for the lack of interest mostly stemmed from the ruling
entity and gentry. All the rulers were Han Chinese and had simply
never heard of or knew too little of the religion. The Nine-grade
controller system, by which prominent individuals in each local
administrative area were given the authority to rank local families
and individuals in nine grades according to their potential for
government service, further consolidated the importance of
Confucianism. Daoism too remained a strong force among the population
and philosophers.
...Subsequent chaotic periods of Sixteen Kingdoms and Southern and
Northern Dynasties changed the situation, resulting in state support
of Buddhism. Most rulers and population of the Wu, Hu, and the
Northern dynasties originated from more than ten distinct ethnic
groups including either non-Han Chinese "barbarians", or Han Chinese
after generations of "barbarian" influence. They did not propagate nor
trust the combined philosophical concept of Confucianism and Daoism as
zealously as their rivals in the south. Official support of Buddhism
would eventually mould a new Chinese populace with a common ideology
out of the diversely ethnic population, which would in turn
consolidate these dynasties.
...It is instructive that Buddhism propagated faster in northern China
than in the south. Social upheaval in northern China worked to break
down cultural barriers between the elite ruling families and the
general populace, in contrast to the south where elite clans and royal
families firmly monopolized politics. Daoist and Confucian political
ideology had long consolidated the political status of elite clans in
the south. Support of another religion would have unknown and possibly
adverse effects, for which these clans would not risk their
privileges. Furthermore pro-Buddhist policy would not be backed by the
bureaucracy, which had been staffed by members of the clans. Southern
rulers were in weaker positions to strive for their legitimacy - some
were even installed by the clans. It was not until the reign of
Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty that saw the official support of
Buddhism. Rebellion of Hou Jing near the end of Emperor Wu's reign
wreaked havoc on the political and social privileges of the elite
clans, which indirectly assisted the spread of Buddhism. But Buddhism
spread pretty well in the peasant populace, both in the north and the
south.
=====
Is this the sort of perspective you're seeking?
If not, can you elaborate on what type of information you're after?
It would help us know how to best approach the research for your
question.
Thanks,
pafalafa-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
26 Dec 2005 15:17 PST
Busshism...? Ha! Sorry 'bout that. Nothing to do with the current
dynasty in the White House, however.
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Clarification of Question by
nawara-ga
on
27 Dec 2005 04:04 PST
i visited one of the websites you gave me
(http://www.askasia.org/silk_roads/l000098/l000098j.htm)
"With the downfall of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE and the troubled
chaotic period that followed, Buddhism was able to spread to different
regions of China." In that sentence a chaotic period is mentioned, it
would be helpful to know what that period was and why it was chaotic.
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