The Conceptual World of Buddhism - Essay Example

Essay on Buddhism Influences on Chinese Culture Introduction The Ancient Chinese culture composes of three systems of thought that included Confucianism, and Buddhism. Both Confucianism and Daoism are Chinese cultures. Buddhism is a foreign language from India. Despite conflicts on these cultures, it has been integrated into other mainstream in the development of Chinese culture of understanding. Moreover, Chinese culture has been developed into a system by in cooperating 3 religions into one whereas Confucianism has been taken as the pivot supported by Daoism and Buddhism. Buddhism has been with all levels of Chinese culture for the duration of 2000 years (Wertz 1). These include literature architecture philosophy, morality arts and religion.in this case, Buddhism has appropriately been incorporated in the traditional Chinese culture (Shanker 4). In this context, the research will discuss the Buddhist impact on Chinese culture basing on a number of points that include: (1) Religion (2) Theology. (3) Language and Literature. Literature Review This literature review explains the significance of Indian Buddhism and its impact on the modern Chinese society. For hundreds of years, Indian Buddhism has shaped the structure of Chinese culture in a number of ways. Once it started, Buddhism has affected Chinese society thus making it essential in part of Chinese faith. The research will explore a number of themes.it will feature the existing research done on the impact on Buddhism on Chinese culture, impact of globalization on china culture and proposal for the course of action on china. Background Information As soon as Buddhism came into china, its spread depended mostly upon the Chinese cultural belief. Buddhism started in India around 560 BCE; with the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama. Upon getting enlightened, he was referred to “the Buddha." That the awakened one, His teachings came into China along the famous silk route around the 200 C.E (Shanker 4). Buddhism has slowly developed in china through the work done by both Indian and Chinese monks. During that period, Buddhism developed into a major religious philosophy in china. Eight different schools of Buddhism were initiated that still exist to today. At this example, foreign Buddhist monks penetrated china by adapting Taoist theory thus, interpreting the Buddhist doctrine (Teaser 9). Tao refers to the concept that allows for many meaning and interpretations incorporated. At the ancient Taoism, major philosophy and religion can be both tending to good fortune by acupuncture, sex awareness and prowess associated. Both Taoism and Confucianism are traditions that share many ideas about man, society, the ruler, heaven and the universe. Magic employed in order to gain more devotees. Influence on Chinese culture Chinese has considered Buddhism as the common Taoist practice through this native. Buddhist monks initially translated its scriptures by making comparison that are not likely to happen by use of terms such as “wuwei”(inaction) and “wuji”(not yet absolute (Kuenher 13).This irrelevant interpretation caused the Chinese people to comprehend easily the doctrine associated with Buddhist that were in line with such of the Taoism thought (Kuenher 13). In the beginning, Buddhist had depended on Confucianism. At the time of three kingdoms (220-265AD), there existed a famous monk named king Senghui who made a smart answer on being inquired concerning morality question that affects the Buddhism, the idea both cause and effect. According to Senghui, he stated that, in line with the book written by Zhou named of changes-“one who performs something shall receive happiness will come to the family whereas one whom something bad happens, should expect miseries befall his family hereafter. Through such utterance, that was farfetched in distinction among, Buddhism and Confucianism (Buswell 13). According to Buddhism , one gets something he/ she deserves. It was either ones happiness or actions. It created the dissimilarity between the two. Master Kong Senghui did editing and translation of the scriptures of the satparamita-sutra that adapted the concepts of benevolence used by mahayana that was relevant to the Confucius ideas of humanity that coordinates with the Confucius political and moral principles. During the Chinese south and north Dynasties, the scriptures taught in Buddhist schools was started in India and introduced in china and translation made systematically. Buddhism was altered in order to depend on the Chinese cultural tradition and began to have contradiction statements with the later (Bogoda 8). Controversy varied on questions such as whether Buddhist monk ought to pay respect to the emperor, “the soul is either extinctive or non-extinctive” and “being the existence causes more and effect." On the issues on whether Buddhist monks respecting the emperor, there was a question relating not only to religious etiquette, but also to political ethics. At the onset of Chinese west and East Dynasties, the superiority of the two had to serve their country with the emperor and superiority that demanded one to waits one parent who was highly regarded among the Chinese cultures. Through such, priority is given to clansman within the state department despite contradicting the way of life among Buddhists. It renounced the life in the worldly context, ignored the secular properties thus wandered all over again. It has been known by Confucius that Buddhism expresses a form of etiquette to their parents. It is known that the wrangles among Buddhism and Confucianism and Taoism have been sustained until the Tang Dynasty. Finally, Buddhism was defeated. Without any alternative, Buddhism had to accept the idea. During that time, Renwang ji Fawang was the secular ruler that was same as Dharma Rhaja (Mclead 7). There being no option other than to leave the tradition. Theta Buddhist monks were not necessarily respecting either the emperor or and their parents. The Buddhist theory concerned with cause and effect in the three periods had been a priority based on the law. According to Buddhism, a man has five elements, without a soul. However, owing to Chinese people tradition, everything that is blind with belief in demons was prejudiced. Thus, the considered theory that deals with cause and effect covered three periods. Counseled Buddhism that aimed to advertise theory of soul being immortal afterlife (Buwertz & Juliane 5).For those regarded as good at Confucianism and came to study Buddhism found them stuck due to miscomprehending and Buddhism doctrine that was irrelevant. Hui Yuan is famous monk who represented the East Dynasty. Immortality of the soul was advocated as it caused controversy on the mortality of the soul (Chun 15).In that case, Buddhism and Taoism had tough, intense argument on the events of the day. It was inherent due to differing in terms of doctrines that caused a contradiction. The monks of both Buddhism and Taoism argued often on the superiority of either religion in order to fight for a leading position within the society politically (Hoover 6). At an instance Taoist showed superiority might to Buddhists, a particular monk of Taoist leading Jun Dynasty had created claims known as ”Lao Zi Huan Hu Jing." From the excerpt, it meant that the leader of Taoism Lao Zi had gone to the west that refers to India. On being converted to saktamuni to become his disciple as, Lao Zi advised to launch Buddhism. Buddhist monks launched a revenge on the allegations. Taoism named sutra created “Qing Jing Fa ” (sutra of pure conduct) in order to oppose diametrically Taoism. It says that Buddha, usually send only his three disciples to china in order to encourage people to Buddhism. The common Rutong Bodhisattva is Confucius; Guangjing Bodhisattva is also Yangquan whereas mahakappa is Lao Zi. This controversy is known to last up to the end Dynasty led by Tang. The religion Buddhism had merged with traditional Chinese culture from the period of Tang and Song (Chun 15). Since that time, all the three religions flowed like a union. All the religions merged into one and were taken as an aspect of worship. According to master Dao of Jun Dynasty, it considered that there was no difference among the three religions. All advocated a code of conduct. Based on the doctrine adopted by the three religions, each differed from the other yet all had something in common. According to Zhi Yuan leader of song Dynastyconsidered Confucianism as being good for physical achievement whereas Buddhism is regarded as good on one psychological accomplishment. On that context, both Confucianism and Buddhism were of mutual benefit. From it depicts a strong desire of Buddhism religion thus compromising of either Confucianism or Taoism religion (Chun 14). In addition, the so-called “san Jiao He Yi” becomes a main social phenomenon. Moreover, after Confucianism was absorbed from Buddhism, it created a new philosophy known as Neo- Confucianism (Chun 15). The same happened for Taoism. Immediately on Buddhism benefitting nutritionally the new forms of Taoism schools started one by one. They named as Quanzhen Jiao and Jaiyi Jiao. During that time, Buddhism completed its process of localization and became an essential part of Chinese traditional culture. Localization process ensured Buddhism fully penetrating into a variety of the Chinese culture thus giving a tremendous impact to Chinese philosophy. Buddhism had a deep influence to Chinese theology also. The translation done on Buddhist scriptures was from sanskit into Chinese that gave affected the newly launched the Chinese books on theology. Buddhism has also influenced the Chinese art on different aspects. Through such king of Taoist and Confucius thought china ethics authenticity. In terms of effects, both theories have a positive influence on Chinese society. The Architecture of Ancient china has been magnificent especially Buddhism temples, had its configuration originally from the primitive Buddhism of India. Certain developments such as sculptures, paintings were created because of Buddhism prosperity in china (Bunce 7).Pagodas in China depicted a great power of Buddhist culture influencing the Chinese Architecture. There are structures such as the brick pagoda of Songhan Songyue temple of Chinas Henan province, the wood pagoda of yingxian of Shinxi province. All these have served as useful objects to study the history of the ancient Chinese Architecture. In recognition of the house treasure in ancient carving and the Dunghuang, (Bunce 7), introduced and launched to fit Chinese characteristics once it was absorbed from ancient Indian art, especially in arts of Gangara. From the Mogaoku of Dunhuang Grottos, was a palace designed in artistic palace that is erected in the palace. From the Buddhist jatak stories are sufficient materials for paints in ancient Chinese artists. The religion has greatly contributed due to a given result to china astronomy and medicine. There exist a number of aspects concerning medicine and pharmacy started in the Buddhist Tripitakas (Hoover 2). According to historical books written by Sui and Tang Dynasties, the medicine and pharmacy books translated from the Indian language to Chinese language. The discussion above provided a clear understanding that cultural exchange existed between two countries in the ancient time. Buddhism’s seem to have a tremendous impact to a variety of Chinese culture (Tsing 7). Impact of Globalization Information transfer in this age has spread gradually, unlike recent years. It has influenced the realm of religion especially in the methods used to teach, proselytizing and belief in systems. Area of concern is the fact that religion is now possible to spread beyond national borders. Unseen developments of religions have been created. Thus, the rapid transmission of information is regarded as globalization religion (Braavig 4).Through globalization; we obtain the unique nature in that it often violates the concepts of boundaries among countries. On the globalization phenomena, it has impacts on both the economic and scientific technology. It also Concerns on the social phenomena like religion. Globalization on cultural context usually occurs in different features that will depend on the particular are of the culture involved (Inoue 9).According to Tsing (3) globalization, greatly signified a clash of cultures. Anthropologist Anna Tsing used friction in that place by incorporating metaphor for the variety of the conflicting social interaction that formed the recent world. To develop the word “friction,” the anthropologist metaphor that considered two sticks rubbed together in order to produce heat and light (Tsing 7). The globalization process in china has caused a weakening of borders between countries among the ethnic groups in the area. Buddhism has established cultural sphere throughout china. Mahayana Buddhism is an example that has been developed greatly in a variety of different functions in the neighboring countries of China. In this case, each religion can be defined on the map distribution of its main group while, at the same time, religion in each nation poses its own characteristics (Tsing 7). Buddhism course of Action Buddhism should rely on its ability to adapt to changing conditions due to a variety of cultures in china. According to McLuhan (14), a suitable media is an essential part in structure effects ways we perceive and understand the world our world. Such media such as television should assist Buddhism religion explore additional members through its teachings; due to it being opposed philosophically to materialism mostly from western permeates to expand. The religion should recognize a conflict that exists between itself and modern science, from contrary, Buddha should apply experimental approach to questions that are of ultimate truth. It should strengthen the religion in other countries where Buddhism remains strong in Myanmar and Thailand. Attempts to prevent derailing of the religion should be made, unlike, in Tibet where Buddhism was undercut after Dalai Lama escaped. The religion should exploit its continued existence in china under strict government regulation and supervision enforced. Conclusion The above factors discussed the conceptual world of Buddhism and application in some fields of information. A mode of diffusion on information has been identified .We see that Buddhism spread in most of all literature through the emphasis done. In addition, the Buddhist canonical scriptures have been established based on the translation that became enormous. It has been influential throughout East Asia for a longer period. Indeed, many of translations of Buddhist texts were especially into Chinese. It may be Characterized by the rather inaccurate and loss of form in sanskrit that was conceptual. Works Cited Buswell, Robert E.The Formation of Chan Ideology in china and Korea: The Vajrasamadhi – Sutra, A Buddhist Apocryphon. Princeton,Nj: Princeton University Press. Bogoda Robert.Buddhist Culture,The Cultured Buddhist. The Budddhist Publication Society. Insight publishers. Srilanka. (2005). p.9.Print press. Hoover Thomas.The project Guternberg Ebook of Zen Culture. New York. Longhorn Publishers. 2010 .publication Braarvig Jens.The Spread of Buddhism as Globalization of Knowledge. London. Macmillian publishers. (2005) .p.6. Berwitz, Stephen C, Julliane, Schober Joseph, S.Buddhist Manuscript Cultures: Knowledge, Ritual and Art. New York: Routledge.2009. Bounce, Fredrick,W. Iconography of Architecture Plans: A study of the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism on plans of South and South East Asia: New Delhi: D. K. Printworld. Chun Fang Y. Some Ming Buddjist Response to Neo- Confucianism. Journal of Chinese Philosophy. London. Oxford publishers. (1988) p.15, 371-413. Inoue Nobutaka the Information Age and the Globalization of Religion. Kokugakuni University. Publication. 1997. P.5. Shanker Thapa. Identity of Master Buddhanhadra. Nepalese Master Buddhabhadra and Buddhism in Friction in Fifth Century China. Guangzou. Insight Publishers. The Weekly Mirror.2009.p.17. Kuenher Trudy, understanding china. History institute Report.Vol.12, No1.The Newsletter of FPRI’s Watchman Centre. Priceton. Priceton publishers. (2007). p.6.Print press. Wertz Richard. R .Exploring Chinese History: Culture Forum. Berth: Peason Publishers. (2014). Publication. Mclead Ken H.How is the medium changing the message? Thoughts on technology in relation to modern Buddhism. London. Macmillan Publishers. insight journal. 2014. Press. Teiser Stephen F. Chinese Cultural Studies: The spirit of Chinese religion. priceton. priceton university press.(1996).p.4. Publication. Tsing, Anna L. Friction Ethnography of Global Connection. Priceton University press,2005. Mcluhan, Marshall.T Understaning Media.The extension of Man .New York: Mc Graw Hill, 1964 book. Read More