Representation of Buddhism in China

Buddhism in Chinese Religion

Buddhism appears to be playing a smaller part in Chinese religion today. However, Fowler and Fowler argue in their work Chinese Religions that underestimating the historical impact of Buddhism on China is irrelevant. The authors demonstrate the controversy this view on Chinese religious doctrine has caused in this context. To demonstrate the profound roots of this teaching in traditional Chinese culture, they specifically examine a number of Buddhist schools and teachings that gained traction in China. In general, the authors show that Buddhism had a multi-stage impact on China. At first, the Taoists and Mahayana priests tried to popularize the key concepts of Buddhist teaching, like morality and the Lotus Sutra. Then, the T’ien-t’ai/Tiantai was the first Chinese Buddhist School that started the discussion with Lotus Sutra study, and the Hua-yen/Huayan as the second multi-system school in China established the clear intelligent connection between the phenomena. Finally, Devotional Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism accomplished the rooting of this religious teaching in the country.

Analyzing Buddhism in China

As for the analysis within the book, the key idea is that Buddhism throughout its development was in deep collaboration with already existing Chinese teachings. While referring to Chinese literacy, it offered the Chinese culture the new ideas about the cosmos and structural intelligence. With this interrelation, the authors show that Buddhism is an inevitable part of China by significantly contributing to its creation, formation, and popularization. Moreover, they included various concepts and evidence to trace the transmission of this belief and prove their point.

The Influence of Buddhism on Chinese Culture

In sum, it is clear that the authors have offered an exemplary representation of Buddhism in China and showed the different social and religious manifestations it underwent. By experiencing the different stages of its development, its influence on cultural patterns is still present in contemporary China.

Bibliography

Fowler, Jeaneane D. and Merv Fowler. Chinese Religions. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 2012.