DBQ Buddhism in China
DBQ Buddhism in China
Morgan Taylor
When Buddhism spread from India to China many different opinions were voiced. Although many people began to gradually convert to it, others felt differently about the new religion. Opinions fluctuated often with some people feeling that Buddhism would be good for the society, to bring the people together in a time of suffering, and others demanding that it be shunned for corrupting the people with foreign ways. Documents 1,2, 3, and 5 can be grouped together because they all point out the reasons to support Buddhism. The Buddah (who was the founder of Buddhism) discussed “The Four Noble Truths” and that all things in life are driven by sorrow and passion. Because he is the founder of the religion, he obviously supports the traditions. Zhi Dun, an influential Chinese scholar in document 2 states the pleasures of Buddhism and encourages everyone to strive to reach nirvana. At a stressful when the Asian steppe nomads are invading Zhi Dun could have easily declared Buddhism a foreign scheme, but he chose to promote it instead. Because the government structure was weakening and everything the people were used to was falling apart they chose to turn to the new promising ways of Buddhism. Document 3 is similar in the fact that it is also written by a scholar. It also supports the ways of Buddhism and does it in an efficient logic based way. By answering direct criticism of its traditions the scholar comes across more persuasive to the people who have not yet decided whether they will support Buddhism or not. Document 3 proves that Buddhism will conflict with Confucianism because of its focus on each person individually. The “5 relationships of Confucianism” conflict with the self focus of Buddhism and this document takes the Buddhist side. Document 5 is a little different because although it supports Buddhism, it does not come out and say that Confucianism is wrong. By saying “all three teachings lead to the creation of
Morgan Taylor
When Buddhism spread from India to China many different opinions were voiced. Although many people began to gradually convert to it, others felt differently about the new religion. Opinions fluctuated often with some people feeling that Buddhism would be good for the society, to bring the people together in a time of suffering, and others demanding that it be shunned for corrupting the people with foreign ways. Documents 1,2, 3, and 5 can be grouped together because they all point out the reasons to support Buddhism. The Buddah (who was the founder of Buddhism) discussed “The Four Noble Truths” and that all things in life are driven by sorrow and passion. Because he is the founder of the religion, he obviously supports the traditions. Zhi Dun, an influential Chinese scholar in document 2 states the pleasures of Buddhism and encourages everyone to strive to reach nirvana. At a stressful when the Asian steppe nomads are invading Zhi Dun could have easily declared Buddhism a foreign scheme, but he chose to promote it instead. Because the government structure was weakening and everything the people were used to was falling apart they chose to turn to the new promising ways of Buddhism. Document 3 is similar in the fact that it is also written by a scholar. It also supports the ways of Buddhism and does it in an efficient logic based way. By answering direct criticism of its traditions the scholar comes across more persuasive to the people who have not yet decided whether they will support Buddhism or not. Document 3 proves that Buddhism will conflict with Confucianism because of its focus on each person individually. The “5 relationships of Confucianism” conflict with the self focus of Buddhism and this document takes the Buddhist side. Document 5 is a little different because although it supports Buddhism, it does not come out and say that Confucianism is wrong. By saying “all three teachings lead to the creation of