Investigate the impact Buddhism had on Human Rights in China

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This essay will investigate the impact that Buddhism had on Human rights in China. Discussion will centre on the history of Buddhism in China and the Cultural Revolution. Considering how Marxist ideology implemented changes to the religion of Buddhism and the social conditions in this country, using politics has the base to build this essay to analyse the impact of communism on religion ,regarding Tibet. The paper will then discus the post communist society up until the present day using human right issues in Beijing and how if any changes have being made to implement religious freedom and democracy in China in the present era.

To introduce this subject consideration will first be given to the history of Buddhism and how this impacted on the society of China, using the class structure and Emperor Worship to distinguish Buddhism from other religions present. Buddhism came to China in a slow gradual process. Confucianism and Taoism where the main philosophy’s practiced. Buddhism emerged through Taoist scholars who kindly translated the texts of Buddha, hence the slow process of this religion. Buddhism was recognized to coincide with Taoism and ambiguous texts complemented each philosophy. Buddhism grew in strength in the 4th and 5th century and it attracted the upper class society. Chan (1957) Buddhism presented a moral code that fit in with life and infused great support from the wealthy. Over the next few centuries’ great monasteries where built and extravagant displays of architecture flourished under the emperor of the Han dynasty; Emperors used the clergy of Buddhism through economically helping the flourishing of Buddhist thought. It was known in these times that good deeds led to merit that could be passed to ancestors or sa...

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...titudes towards Buddhism in Chinese history, Vol 22, The China Quarterly, Cambridge University press, access 3/4/2011

King, Sallie, (2009). Socially engaged Buddhism, University of Hawaii press, USA

Liebethal, Walter, (1955). Chinese Buddhism during the 4th and 5th century, Monumenta, Nipponica, Sophia University, Vol 11 access 22/3/2011.

Wing Tsit Chan, (1957). Transformation of Buddhism in China: philosophy east and west, Vol 7, University of Hawaii press, USA access 22/3/2011

Zu, Jiping, (1991) The case of the Cultural revolution in China, Sociological Analysis, Vol 52 , Oxford university press, Oxford. Access 28/3/2011

Yu, David, (1971). Buddhism in Communist China, Demise or co existence, Vol 39, Oxford University press, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Access, 11/3/2011

Amnesty International (2011), www.amnesty.org/en/China , Access 13/4/2011

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