Wednesday, March 05, 2014

"grieved for the hardness of their hearts" - Chinese Buddhism


Ueno Park, Tokyo


Chinese Buddhism

When the Gospels were edited in or around the Roman Empire in the first century, Buddhism reached China.

But the development in China of this religions originated in India 500 years before the birth of Christ Jesus was very different from that of Christianity in Europe.

Even unlike in India where Buddhism was supported by ordinary people, Buddhism was protected and promoted by courts of successive dynasties of China.  Accordingly, development and diffusion of Buddhism in China could be studied along with changes in dynasties which ruled all or part of China in the proceeding of the history.  

Traditionally Chinese did not accept Buddhism as it was.  They selected contents of the religion in light with their tradition and culture.  Chinese Buddhists, monks, or scholars never abandoned Sinocentrism.  Rather, teachings of Buddhism which did not fit with Sinocentrism were neglected.  Instead, they created their version of Buddhist scriptures based on their philosophy.  They also mistranslated original sutras.  In addition, they added their writings to original Buddhist literature or deleted some part of sutras so as to make Buddhism serve their culture and tradition.

What is remarkable is that various Buddhist factions came to emerge as study of Buddhism developed over time.  Different interpretation led to formation of different factions.  So, it was very complicated that Chinese Buddhist schools handled Chinese versions of sutras, which were complicated due to interaction with Chinese philosophies, based on their unique philosophies.  Accordingly, the Chinese version of Buddhism, as a hole, became very special extension,  expansion, or even application of Buddhism practiced in India.    

And what is more complicated is that Japanese imported Buddhism from China (or through the Korean Peninsula in an early stage).

And finally, the Japanese unique Buddhism was established since the 12th century, which was also very different from the Chinese Buddhism, though this religion Gautama Buddha (circa 563 BCE to 483 BCE) started in India reached Japan in the sixth century or earlier.

However, one thing true is that Chinese believe a spiritual world as is seen in traditional Taoism and the philosophies of Lao-tse and Chuang-tse, legendary Chinese scholars in the 5th century BCE.





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Mar 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.