Buddhism was first brought to China from India by missionaries and traders
along the Silk Road that connected China with Europe in the late Han
Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD).
By then, Indian Buddhism was already over 500 years old, but the faith
didn't begin to flourish in China until the decline of the Han Dynasty and
an end to its strict Confucian beliefs.
Beliefs:
Within the Buddhist philosophy grew two main divisions. There were those
that followed the traditional Theravada Buddhism, which involves strict
meditation and a closer reading of the original teachings of Buddha.
Theravada Buddhism is prominent in Sri Lanka and most of Southeast Asia.
The Buddhism that took hold in China was Mahayana Buddhism, which includes
various forms such as Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism
- also known as Lamaism.
Mahayana Buddhists believe in the broader appeal to Buddha's teachings
compared to the more abstract philosophical questions posed in Theravada
Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhists also accept contemporary buddhas like
Amitabha, which Theravada Buddhists don't.
Buddhism was able to directly address the concept of human suffering --
which had wide appeal for the Chinese who were dealing with the chaos and
disunity of warring states vying for control after the fall of the Han.
Many ethnic minorities in China also adopted Buddhism. (see chart)
Competition with Daoism
When first introduced, Buddhism faced competition from followers of Daoism.
While Daoism (also called Taoism) is as old as Buddhism, Daoism was
indigenous to China.
Daoists do not view life as suffering. They believe in an ordered society
and strict morality, but they also hold strong mystical beliefs such as
ultimate transformation, where the soul lives after death and travels to
the world of the immortals.
Because the two beliefs were so competitive, many teachers from both sides
borrowed from the other. Today many Chinese believe in elements from both
schools of thought.
Buddhism as a State Religion:
Buddhism's popularity, led to the quick conversion to Buddhism by later
Chinese rulers. The subsequent Sui and Tang Dynasties all adopted Buddhism
as their religion.
The religion was also used by foreign rulers of China, such as the Yuan
Dynasty and the Manchus, to connect with the Chinese and justify their
rule. The Machus strived to draw a parallel between Buddhism. a foreign
religion, and their own reign as foreign leaders.
Contemporary Buddhism:
Despite China's shift to atheism after the Communists took control of China
in 1949, Buddhism continued to grow in China, especially after the economic
reforms in the 1980s.
Today there are an estimated 100 million followers of Buddhism in China and
over 20,000 Buddhist temples. It is the largest religion in China.
