Spread of Buddhism

Keith Secon AP World break up of Buddhism DBQ Responses to the Spread of Buddhism Following Buddhisms introduction into China in the head start and mo centuries, C. E. , the righteousness was fatherd in different ways, supposeing the progression of Chinas history. Chinese bookmans, Confucian Government Officials, and Buddhists viewed Buddhism through and through their unique perspectives, or sotimes agreeing and sometimes disagreeing on the role it played in Chinese life. Chinese scholars for the most part saw Buddhism as a positive influence because it provided hope for an afterlife. Buddhists of course embraced the rise of Buddhism and saw it as salvation.Confucian government officials were suspicious of Buddhism and saw it as a negative influence that challenged their already proven authority from Confucianism. Ultimately, the groups repartee to Buddhism differed depending on how tightly centralized the established Confucian dynasty was at the time, and by how much each groups position in partnership would be benefitted or harmed. Chinese pupils viewed Buddhism from an intellectual standpoint which send them to receive it as ultimately positive because they had no special interest, as did the sacred or government tierceers.As stated by Zhi bedevil, whosoever in China serves the Buddha and aright observes the commandments he will behold the Buddha and be enlightened in his spirit, and because he will enter Nirvana. (Doc 2) This shows that Zhi Dun supported Buddhism and saw it as a way to achieve the highest state of spiritual being because ambit Nirvana meant that wizard could escape the terrible cycle of reincarnation. This inventory is aslope due to the concomitant that where Zhi Dun was living at this time, in northern China was being invaded by barbaric nomads which light-emitting diode him to need something to commit in and Buddhism filled that void.A document that would have been utile in reputing Zhi Duns statement would hav e been a daybook innovation from a scholar in Southern China where there were no opposed invaders and the government was still strong. In The Disposition of Error, an anonymous scholar in 500 ce questioned both Confucianism and Buddhism when he wrote, All written whole shebang need not necessarily be the words of Confucius even if the Buddha isnt mentioned in them, What occasion is there for suspicion? (Doc 3) This scholars statements reflect the semipolitical chaos and turmoil of the time as they demonstrate Confucianism and Buddhism be neither good nor bad but they fill a undeniable part in muckles kick the buckets. The bias in this document stems from his anonymity because it seems as if he is almost in addition sc ard too publicly fate his ideas and name. In this case a diary entry or public statement from a Daoist would be very encouraging to contrast this scholars claim. From the point of view of a Daoist the lecturer would have been better able to understand the writers loyalties on the statement.Buddhists positively responded to the Spread of Buddhism because they obviously believed in the values of Buddhism and they wanted to share their beliefs with others. Buddha in The Four Noble Truths lays out the basic guidelines to Buddhism and the way for converts to live their lives (Doc 1). Following the noble truths outlined by Siddhartha Gautama will eventually lead to the stopping of sorrow. The bias in the document lays in the fact that it is a sermon which has the sole purpose to try to convert people to the trust being preached.To argue the Buddhas guidelines of life, the Four Noble Truths, a scientific based study by an Educator or Scholar would be helpful as it could clear up some of the unknowns in the Buddhas statement. A scientific study would have been helpful due to fact that the Buddha was mainly preaching to the uneducated lower-class. The leading Buddhist scholar, Zong Mi, in his judge On the Nature of Man wrote, Confucius, La ozi, and the Buddha were perfect sages all three teachings lead to the creation of an orderly society and for this they must be observed with compliancy(Doc 5).This shows that Zong Mi was impartial if not pro-Buddhist because he showed respect for Buddhism, as head as the other philosophies, because he believed they all could provide stability and mirth for the people. This document is biased because the scholar is Buddhist and probably laden which led him to promote Buddhism because if much people converted to it, it would have only benefited him more. In this case a diary entry from a Confucian Scholar would be helpful in debasing Buddhism because Confucianism was specifically against Buddhism.Confucian government officials were vehemently opposed to Buddhism because they believed it openly challenged their power and authority. Han Yu, a leading Confucian scholar and official at the Tang imperial, in Memorial on Buddhism states, Buddhism is no more than a cult of the barbaria n peoples spread to China(Doc 4) Han Yu was clear against Buddhism, thinking that it had a negative effect because the people who worshiped it were barbarians and not the the like the educated scholars of his social class.Han Yu also opposed Buddhism because he was rooted in his own Confucian beliefs and the power it bestowed upon his government. This document is dripping with bias because a Confucian scholar wrote it during a highly centralized time of political stability. The political stability led to the peasants and the masses not needing a high belief so they digressed back to the standard Confucian bureaucracy. A diary entry from a Buddhist monk or convert would be helpful as it would defend the ways of Buddhism and living ones life to the fullest instead of letting the state control you.Emperor Wu, of the Tang Dynasty, in his Edict of Buddhism states, now if even one man fails to work the fields, soulfulness must go hungry At present there are an inestimable number of monks and nuns in the empire, all of them waiting for the farmers to feed them(Doc 6). The prior statement shows that Emperor Wu was very opposed to Buddhism because it took away the maximum productiveness that his empire was capable of due to the fact the Buddhists lead ascetic lives and depended on others for goods and food.This document is biased because Emperor Wu didnt have a first hand experience of what the masses had to deal with because he was a wealthy aristocrat and didnt understand the need for a religion like Buddhism. A recorded conversation between two farmers would be helpful for determining if it puts that much economic stain on the farmers to produce more for others, since more production leads to more wealth.The conflict between Buddhism and Confucianism was due to the ever-changing political state of China throughout it history of dynasties. When a dynasty wasnt strong or when China was in a period of decentralization, it allowed naked as a jaybird philosophies and religions to become prominent but when China was stable and centralized the people regressed to the normalcy of Confucianism. In dark times, when political turmoil flourishes, clean religions deck up to the forefront of society by offering hope and structure and green values.This is true at many points in history throughout non-homogeneous civilizations, such as during medieval times in Europe, the new religion of Christianity took hold in peasants lives during the time of political unsteadiness. As times change, new religions are created and others are pushed to the back burner. People must remember through these changing times not to become too invested in one religion as it will only lead to disappointment, and in some extreme cases, persecution.