Buddhism In China Essay

Buddhism faced many cultural challenges when first introduced into China. It came to be accepted when it was mixed with and parts of it where misinterpreted for Daoism doctrine. Most of the Buddhist rituals conflicted with other philosophical ideas of the time in China, such as their out looks on life and treatment of their own bodies. Looking at the challenges that Buddhism faced when introduced to china it meet opposition at every turn. In the reading it says “Buddhism was obliged to compete with indigenous philosophical and religious systems” (SEAT pg228). Out of all of these philosophical and religious systems it had to compete with Daoism and Confucian systems. With Buddhist monks taking a vow of celibacy this directly conflicts with Chinese culture of honoring ancestors. This is pointed out in the section were it says “Traditionally, there could be no greater calamity for a Chinese than childlessness” (SEAT pg230). Buddhist where also meet with opposition when it came to shaving their heads, which was their practice. This conflicted with Confucian ideals which is pointed out with “The Confucians held that the body is a gift of one’s parents and that to harm it is to be disrespectful toward them” (SEAT pg229). Lastly looking at conflicting views of

In the reading this is pointed out where it says “Buddhist philosophy first began to flourish… when it was interpreted largely in Daoist terms” (SEAT pg240). This can be seen when early Chinese Buddhist monks compare emptiness which relates to Daoism and nirvana which is Buddhist to one another, even though they are actually different concepts. When talking about emptiness in the reading the compare it where it reads “It is the absolute truth and absolute being- in fact, it is the same as nirvana” (SEAT pg241). When it refers to “it” in this quote it is refereeing to