Jonathan Hagerman

Mrs. Nowotarski
AP World History, Period 3
13 September 2014
The religion of Buddhism has entertained many responses in China.
Buddhism spread steadily throughout China after the fall of the Han dynasty in 220
C.E., However, Emperor Wu of the Tang later denounced the religion and proclaimed
that it must be purged. The citizens of China held various opinions, and the
responses of the population differed greatly. Responses to Buddhism took many
forms, some practicing the religion, others taking a position of respect and
tolerance, with others rejecting the religion and trying to eradicate it.
As Buddhism spread into China, some adopted the religion and began
practicing and advocating for it. The ideals of Buddhism to end all suffering through
lack of desire, as stated by the Buddha in his first sermon of The Four Noble
Truths, greatly appealed to the Chinese, especially the lower classes who owned
little. One Chinese Buddhist scholar, who was a confidant of Chinese aristocrats and
high government officials, wrote that the followers of Buddhism will be enlightened
and enter Nirvana. The spiritual appeal to convert to Buddhism was present, as
shown by the practice of the religion by people of many classes.
Others, while not practicing Buddhism, respected its beliefs and tolerated its
presence in China. One document, written by a Buddhist scholar in the early 9 th
century C.E., pronounces the importance of equality of reputable religions, stating,
[the philosophies] must be observed with respect. One anonymous Chinese
scholar, around 500 C.E., defended the religion against Confucian arguments. It is
not said which philosophy the scholar devotes his belief to, but either way, many
Chinese clearly had respect for the religion.
However, there were some that denied the religion and its presence in China.
A high official in the government of the Tang dynasty pleaded to the emperor that
Buddhism should be eliminated, claiming Buddhism is no more than a cult of
barbarian peoples... He also asserted that Buddhism was destroying the nation,
stressing Your servantbegsthat this evil be rooted out. Approximately 25
years later, in 845 C.E., Emperor Wu of the Tang denounced Buddhism, calling it
the religion of idols, and declaring that Buddhism wears out the peoples
strength, pilfers their wealth He went on to criticize the religion, essentially
calling the Buddhist monks and nuns leeches and vulture on the land, and the
condemned the religion, proclaiming that there no longer remains the slightest
doubt in Our mind that this evil should be eradicated. Without a doubt, there
existed many who detested the religion of Buddhism in China and responded
negatively toward it.

In ancient China, the religion of Buddhism received many responses from the
different viewpoints of the civilization. However, some pieces of the puzzle are
missing all of the documents are by high officials and scholars. A document that
showed the view of a common lower class citizen of China in this time period would
be valuable in formulating the general view of the religion. However, the responses
that we do know of were greatly varied, ranging from practice of the religion, to
tolerance, to utter condemnation. Indeed, the people of China had very different
views of the religions, which led to very different responses.