Saturday, March 24, 2012

"For John was not yet cast into prison" - Start of Buddhism in East Asia

Tokyo Suburb Railroad...


Start of Buddhism in East Asia

As Christianity started in the 1st century in Europe, namely in Rome and peripheral regions, Buddhism also started in the 1st century in East Asia, namely first in China.
White Horse Temple is, according to tradition, the first Buddhist temple in China, established in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han capital Luoyang.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Horse_Temple 
Specifically, two Buddhist priests came from the western boundary of the Han dynasty to its capital, riding on white horses and carrying Buddhist scriptures.

This is one of the most important facts when considering and comparing history of the west and the east.

Though there has bee no such central body as the Vatican in East Asia, the length of history of Buddhism in East Asia, including Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, is equal to that of Christianity in Europe.

So, the depth of religious cultivation in both the east and the west must be comparable.  Accordingly, it is no wonder that Japan succeeded in modernization and westernization in the late 19th century to catch up with Europe and North America.  It is also no wonder that Taiwan, China, and South Korea have come to be successfully industrialized to compete with Europe and North America around the start of the 21st century.

How Buddhism Spread in Asia
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8F%E6%95%99%E4%BC%9D%E6%9D%A5

It is believed that Buddhism was officially introduced into Japan from Korea in the early 6th century.  At the time the whole Korean peninsula was in a state of war.  One of Korean countries especially wanted support from and alliance with Japan.  So to appeal to Japanese leaders, they used power of religion.  And, this turmoil in the peninsula drove many families and clans out of Korea to Japan.  Those refugees carried their religion Buddhism to Japan.  And some of them were highly welcomed by Japanese leaders and given higher status in the ancient Japanese court, as they had advanced knowledge in various aspects of culture first developed in ancient China.

However, the Japanese Buddhism was afterward developed in direct connection with Chinese Buddhists over Koreans.  And, as time went by, the Japanese Buddhism came to be deepened and advanced by Japanese monks and scholars to be a unique type of Buddhism.  Even today most of funeral ceremonies in Japan are conducted according to a Buddhist style.


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Joh 3:24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
Joh 3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
Joh 3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
Joh 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Joh 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
Joh 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.