The spread of Buddhism in China was received with disdain, acceptance, or by trying to incorporate it. Buddhism was never mentioned in the Confucian ideals that most Chinese followed(doc’s 4,6).
Buddhism was received favorably by those who believed his the teachings that sensual pleasure was wrong(doc’s 1,2).
Some tried to incorporate Buddhism by not forcing Confucian thought on a different practice(doc’s 5,3).
Many Confucian scholars rejected the teachings of Buddhism(doc’s 4,6).
Han Yu regarded Buddhism as a barbaric since it was of a different fashion than traditional Chinese teachings(doc 4).
China’s geography made it isolated and not subject to many outside influences, so the Chinese had a strong sense for their own culture(OHC).
Productivity was affected by Buddhism, as mentioned in Tang Emperor Wu’s Edict on Buddhism. Buddhism broke apart family and economic structure(doc 6).
China’s bureaucratic system is heavily influenced by Confucian values. A leading Confucian scholar and official at the Tang imperial court would have the respect of the common and people and would be trusted by the ruler. Han Yu viewed Buddhism with disdain since it was an outside influence and it’s practices did not conform with Confucian teachings. This would have caused others to receive Buddhism unfavorably, since he is a high scholar(doc 4, POV).
Tang Emperor Wu saw Buddhism as a blow to the basics of living. He claims that it is destroying law by only consuming and not producing. This shows that Buddhism had a big enough of an impact to worry the Emperor and therefore was received as an intrusion to the productivity of the people(doc 6. POV).
The Essay on Worksheet: Buddhism and Basic Buddhist Teachings
1. Explain the basic Buddhist teachings including the three marks of reality, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path. The basic Buddhist teachings are practical like the Buddha himself. Buddhist taught how to minimize sufferings, and how one could attain inner peace. The three marks of reality associated with the Buddhist are change, no permanent identity, and suffering. Buddha ...
An useful additional documents would be a Buddhist monk’s entry on how their teachings were received while in China. This would help to understand if it was only the higher classes that disapproved of Buddhism(AD).
The Chinese also received favorably to Buddhism in some cases(doc’s 1,2).
The Four Noble Truths addresses the reasons for suffering in this world and how to be released from it. During the collapse of Han, this idea would’ve caught on in the disorder(doc 1).
While China was unstable, Buddhism made its way even to the scholars. This way, its teachings were spread even further since they were trusted by Chinese aristocrats and high officials(doc 2).
