Xuanzang: The Man Behind the Legend
Xuanzang, a post-classical Chinese explorer born around 602 CE, is perhaps better known for his role as the Tang monk in the Chinese legend “The Monkey King.” By far, he is the most significant person in the practice of Buddhism, especially towards the Chinese branch, Mahayana. Although he is overshadowed in the present by more well known explorers such as Marco Polo, Xuanzang played a crucial role in not only Buddhism, but also left a lasting impact on many surrounding civilizations and empires. His courage, wit, and intelligence changed the lives of so many people.
Xuanzang had a hard childhood in China, which shaped him into the man he became. Both his mother and father died, leaving him orphaned with
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Bringing back manuscripts, relics and statues all from India, Xuanzang brought back valuable information about Buddhist culture and human purpose. Perhaps an even shocking fact is that Xuanzang brought back almost 657 texts, which he devoted his life to translating them from Sanskrit. Xuanzang recorded his whole 16 years during his pilgrimage to India, which helps better understand the Buddhist world as well as societies and cultures along the Silk Road which he came across. “From the south of the lake, through a golden elephant's mouth, proceeds the Sindhu (Sin-to) river; encircling the lake once, it flows into the south-western sea” (Washington Edu). Although much of his years were spent as a fugitive, under the cover of the night, as a result of his journeys, Buddhism became more widely practiced and apparent throughout China, as well as other regions in the world. “He was able to translate only a small portion of this huge volume, about 75 items in 1,335 chapters, but his translations included some of the most important Mahayana scriptures” (Britannica). A impressive feat for one person and a crew of 20 people, Xuanzang established many philosophical ideas that are still prevalent in the world today. His main interest centered around the philosophy that the world represented the mind. This philosophy is actually still very apparent in the world, both in religion and logical thinking. In his book, Pilgrims to the West in the Tang Dynasty, Xuanzang recorded important idea and facts that he came across, including customs, geography, people, religion, history and more of over 140 countries (Britannica)! He not only affected the Asian world or Buddhism in China, Xuanzang affected the entire Western World, and facilitated cultural diffusion around the globe. He not only brought Chinese Culture to the Western world but additionally, contributed to the spread of cultures
In the poem "A Song of Changgan", It establishes with the speaker not wanting to be with her husband "And I lowered my head toward a dark corner; And would not turn to your thousand calls;" However, as she turns fifteen she considers that she has no other choice and grasps the fact that she loves him. "But at fifteen, I straightened my brows and laughed, Learning that no dust could ever seal our love, That even unto death I would await you by my post; And would never lose heart in the tower of silent watching." When the speaker turns sixteen, her husband sets off on a lengthy journey which made her worried as he hasn't come home for a while. "Your footprints by our door, where I had watched you go, Were hidden, every one of them, under green moss, Hidden under moss too deep to sweep away. "
Shi Huangdi now able to unite the warring states, explored ways to establish a stable, and long lasting dynasty. The improvements he made to a now unified China, changed they way the world looked upon the country.
Since the introduction of Buddhism into China, it was not well received by the population as its foreign beliefs clashed with pre-existent principals of Confucianism and Taoism. On top of that, it was alienated by the Confucianism-based government in the late Han Dynasty. All in all, Buddhism was not a common nor a popular religion throughout China at first. Nevertheless, this all changed after the rise of the Tang Dynasty. There is no doubt that Buddhism and the Tang administration under Wu’s reign formed a critical symbiotic relationship with one another. Buddhism played a pivotal role in justifying Empress Wu’s rule. She enthroned herself as the monarch of China, an extraordinarily difficult achievement for a woman in a male-dominant society, by associating herself with Buddhism: proclaiming herself as the Maitreya and that she will bring an utopian era for the Chinese. (Smarr, 17 Feb. 2012) At the same time, Buddhism benefitted handsomely from government support, as monasteries are exempted from tax and that they are financially supported by the state, as seen in A Pilgrim’s Visit to the Five Terraces Mountains, which ultimately resulted in the substantial growth in attraction of Buddhist converts and Buddhism itself. Wu’s extensive support of the religion with ostentatious gifts and donations contributed to the rapid proliferation of Buddhism. Evidently, the mutually benefitting relationship between Buddhism and the state are crucial to each other’s survival during Wu’s sovereignty, but to what extent did her financial support (donations to monasteries) of Buddhism bettered the government overall?
This East Asian study will define the historical and literary elements of Chinese xenophobia, the regionalism of Chinese Taoism, and the importance of The Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution in the writings of Han Yu. Han Yu (768-824) defines the religious xenophobia that is attributed to Chinese culture during the Tang Dynasty, which reflects the policies of the Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution under Emperor Wuzong. These values were generated through regional prominence of Anti-Buddhist propaganda that was defined through a predominantly Taoist and Confucian religious culture in China. Han Yu defines the overarching anti-Buddhist propaganda that diminishes the power of leaders, which perceived Buddhism as a “tribal” religion that had corrupted Chinese officials and Emperors. The Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution was a major part of religious xenophobia during the late 8th and 9th centuries that reflected an intolerance for religious diversity. In essence, an analysis of Chinese xenophobia, the regionalism of Chinese Taoism and Confucianism, and the importance of The
...ntly influenced more than just the expansion of the Chinese economy, it has brought in new ideas and cultures from foreign countries that have an everlasting impact on China as a whole.
Seeing the change that Buddhism has caused Tang Wu was not at all fond of it and wanted it stopped, “Having thoroughly examined all earlier reports and consulted public opinion on all sides. this evil should be eradicated.” Buddhism looked beyond classes and was made for everyone. When it came to China, it was the perfect time for the Chinese scholars, but not for the government and strict Confucianists. With the Chinese scholars, it gave them a sense of new direction in their lives and it was their escape from all the chaos around them.
Accompanied by 27,000 men on 62 large and 255 small ships, the Chinese eunuch Zheng He, led 7 naval expeditions to Southeast Asia, Middle East and east coast of Africa in the span of 28 years during the Ming Dynasty. The scale of Zheng He’s fleet is unprecedented in world history. The large treasure ships used during the expeditions were purported to be 440 feet long and 180 feet wide (Dreyer, p. 102). Throughout his travels, Zheng He brought Chinese tea, porcelain and silk products to foreign countries and also brought back exotic goods to the Ming court such as spices, plants and leather. Although his voyages fostered commercial trades and cultural exchange between China and foreign countries, the goal of his expeditions stemmed from the political motivation to maintain the tributary system and his voyages had important political implication of causing Neo-Confucian opposition and suspension of the expedition.
The Cultural Revolution in China was led by Mao Zedong, due to this Liang and many others faced overwhelming obstacles in many aspects of their life such as work, family and everyday encounters, if affected everyone’s families life and education, Liang lets us experience his everyday struggles during this era, where the government determined almost every aspect of life. The beginning of the book starts out with Liang’s typical life, which seems normal, he has a family which consists of three children, two older sisters and him the youngest, his two sister’s reside in Changsha 1. his father has an everyday occupation working as a journalist at a local newspaper. Things start to take a turn early in life for Liang Heng, his family politics were always questioned, the mistake made by one of his family members would impact his entire family and it would be something they would have to suffer through, it was impossible for them to live down such a sin.... ...
He went around the world 600 years ago, has allowed China to acquire and friendly international relations, commercial and forwarded through all these trips the image of China, powerful and impressive.
Regarding religion, Chinese culture saw the emergence of Confucianism and Buddhism as the major influence. Confucianism stressed filial piety which meant respecting elders and superiors, ruling righteously, and obeying commands and orders. Confucianism was introduced by the Chinese thinker Confucius. Buddhism was brought to China, but originated in India and was founded by Siddhartha Gautama. Followers of Buddhism worshipped Buddh...
In fact, Buddhism would become a central aspect to culture of the Chinese. Buddhism had a great impact on the Chinese, philosophers, and Chinese emperors. Additionally, Buddhism had a great influence on Chinese art, and Buddhism was the greatest foreign influence on the artwork of the Chinese. Chinese artist would mix their traditions, with other popular Buddhist art forms from places, such as India. The arrival of Buddhism in China greatly influenced the art of China for many dynasties.
However by age 26, after listening to many oral teachings, he became unsatisfied because there were so many schools of thought and he did not know which doctrine to follow. He decided to travel to the center of Buddhism to find answers but the quest faced difficulties in the beginning as the Tang government forbade commoners to travel west, so his journey was illegal and a warrant for arrest circulated. Luckily for him a Buddhist sympathizer gave him passage and provisions at a government tower. Xuanzang received a royal escort from King Qu-wentai and he became known as a notable teacher wherever he traveled, leaving his mark. He returned to China to explain what he had learned.
Is it because he was a woman that he cried out at the sight of a child being harmed? Did he not cry out at the death of his wife because she was a woman? The role of the female in this story reveals a sense of inferiority towards women. These questions that the story raises show how women were viewed as inferior and weak in the eyes of the Chinese culture.
The Buddhist brought with them the concept of multiple gods and Buddha’s “spiritual state to provide the power for humans to make the transition into death and the afterlife successfully” (Corduan, 2012, p.410). Confucianism brought the obedience of the child to the parent into Chinese mainstream life, plus the “social stratification and codes governing dress, actions and communication” (Corduan, 2012, p.409). Taoism introduced the balance of forces in harmony in spirits in the form of yin and yang, thus creating that balance of nature and humans (Corduan, 2012). Christianity influenced Chinese life both socially and economically by introducing the concepts of “love for one’s neighbor, self-discipline, and trust” (Lu, 2014, p.2) as both essential and beneficial (Lu, 2014). All of these together with the traditional Chinese religion, give the Chinese culture it’s popular religion
The four hundred years between the collapse of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.- C.E. 220) and the establishment of the Tang dynasty (618-906) mark a division in the history of China. During this period, foreign invasion, transcontinental trade, and missionary ambition opened the region to an unprecedented wealth of foreign cultural influences. These influences were both secular and sacred. Nomads, merchants, emissaries and missionaries flooded into China, bringing new customs, providing exotic wares, and generating new religious beliefs. Foremost among these beliefs was Buddhism, born in India, but which now took root in China. These new influences entered China by a vast network of overland routes, popularly known as the Silk Road