Friends, whenever we talk about Buddhism, images of countries like Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal come to our minds. These are the countries with a large population of Buddhists. But can you imagine that the largest population of Buddhists lives in China? Yes, that’s the truth. Today, when efforts are being made in mainland China to spread religion, more than 33% of its population still follows Buddhism. This statistic is truly surprising. Buddhism, which originated in India and was once a source of pride for our country, is now almost on the verge of extinction in India, but in China, Buddhism is still followed in its two major belief systems. One of these is Zen Buddhism, associated with the laughing Buddha statues that you must have seen. These statues are often thought to be from Japan or some other country, but in fact, they are a creation of Chinese Buddhism, and today they are famous worldwide.
Now, the question arises: How did the ideas of Buddha, born in India, spread to a vast and ancient civilization like China, where deep-rooted religious and philosophical traditions like Confucianism and Taoism already existed? How was Buddhism able to make space in such a country? Today, we will learn how Buddhism spread in China.
To understand how Buddhism spread in China, it’s important to first understand how the teachings of Gautam Buddha evolved from a simple philosophy to a religion.
How did Buddha’s philosophy become a religion?
In 483 BCE, Gautam Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (meaning his death) at the age of 80 in Kushinagar. After his death, his followers debated how Buddha’s teachings should be spread. This debate later led to the division of Buddhism into two main sects.
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Hinayana – Followers of this sect believed that Buddha was a simple human who attained enlightenment through meditation and ascetic practices. They believed that each individual must make personal efforts to attain liberation.
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Mahayana – This sect believed that Buddha was not merely human but an incarnation of God who came to earth for the welfare of humanity. They believed that Buddha would repeatedly reincarnate as a Bodhisattva to guide others.
Mahayana Buddhism led to the tradition of worshiping Buddha as a deity. They believed that Buddha’s teachings should not be confined to just their followers but should be spread worldwide to help humanity. This led to the spread of Buddhism not only in India but also in other countries.
How did Buddhism spread in China?
Buddhism is believed to have entered China in the mid-1st century CE, and a famous story is associated with this event. During the 1st century, Emperor Ming Ti of the Han Dynasty ruled China. One night, Emperor Ming Ti had a strange dream in which he saw a golden god shining like the sun. The next day, he spoke about the dream in his court and asked his ministers about the identity of the god. A minister suggested that this dream could be a sign from India, pointing to the great soul, Buddha, who had attained enlightenment and become a god.
The emperor was deeply moved and sent emissaries to India to learn more about Buddha and his teachings. After a long and arduous journey, the emissaries returned with important Buddhist texts and a statue of Buddha. Emperor Ming Ti ordered that these sacred relics be placed in a special temple near the capital, which later became known as the White Horse Temple.
This story, though not entirely historical, highlights the cultural narrative used to introduce Buddha’s teachings to China. Historians believe that Buddhism reached China primarily through the Silk Road, around the 1st century, but its initial spread was slow. This was partly because Buddha’s teachings were foreign to the Chinese people, who already had established philosophies like Taoism and Confucianism. Additionally, the language of the Buddhist texts did not match the Chinese language, making it difficult for the people to understand Buddha’s teachings.
For the first 100 years, Buddhism struggled to gain a foothold in China, as the Chinese people found it difficult to relate to the foreign ideas. However, by the beginning of the 2nd century, China entered a period of division, and the Han Dynasty began to collapse. This instability provided an opportunity for Buddhism to spread.
During the period of division (220 CE to 589 CE), various non-Chinese people settled in northern China. They were not deeply rooted in the traditional Taoist and Confucian philosophies, making them more open to adopting new ideas, including Buddhism. This gave Buddhism a chance to find more acceptance in China.
Kumarajiva’s contribution
In the mid-4th century, a Buddhist monk named Kumarajiva arrived in North China from the western deserts of China. He played a critical role in spreading Buddhism in China by translating Buddhist texts in a way that was more compatible with Chinese culture and language. His translations made the teachings of Buddhism accessible to the common people, which helped Buddhism grow in China.
By the 6th century, the period of disunity in China made the people more receptive to Buddhist ideas, especially as they sought solace from the turmoil. Kumarajiva’s translations provided clear and practical teachings about suffering, instability, and how to attain liberation, which resonated with the people in this time of crisis.
Challenges from Taoism
As Buddhism began to spread, it faced strong competition from Taoism, which was already well-established in China. Taoism had its own philosophy and spiritual practices, and many Chinese people found comfort in its teachings, especially during times of instability. Taoism emphasized the importance of harmony with the Tao, the mysterious force behind the universe, and focused on achieving balance in life.
Taoism also contributed to the development of a unique form of Chinese Buddhism, known as “Zen Buddhism.” Zen Buddhism blended elements of Taoism with Buddhist teachings, creating a new form of Buddhism that was more acceptable to the Chinese people.
Buddhism’s growth under the Tang Dynasty
In the 7th century, the Tang Dynasty brought a period of stability and unity to China. This allowed Buddhism to take root more firmly. One of the most significant developments during this time was the arrival of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who traveled to India to study Buddhism and brought back important Buddhist scriptures.
Xuanzang’s translations helped clarify many Buddhist teachings, and his work was supported by the Tang emperors. Under the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism’s influence spread beyond just ideas and teachings. Buddhist art also flourished, and the Tang empress Wu Zetian even issued an edict to create massive Buddhist statues in China, which helped spread Buddhist culture.
Buddhism in China after the Tang Dynasty
By the 20th century, with the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912, attempts were made to reform and modernize Buddhism. However, during the communist revolution in 1949, Buddhism faced significant suppression. Many Buddhist monks fled to Taiwan, and Buddhist temples were destroyed.
Despite this, Buddhism did not disappear from China. Today, it remains a major religion in China, with over 330 million adherents, accounting for about 33.3% of the population.
Thus, Buddhism’s journey to China was not straightforward. Initially, Chinese people resisted the foreign teachings of Buddhism. However, through efforts like the translations of Kumarajiva and the integration of Buddhist ideas into Chinese culture, Buddhism eventually found a place in the hearts and minds of the Chinese people. Today, Buddhism continues to be a significant part of Chinese society, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of Buddha’s teachings.