Chinese Buddhism

Originally Buddhism was first brought to China for the New Age, but could not at this time due to lack of written tradition spread. Also first translations of Buddhist scriptures into Chinese in the second century did not lead to the spread of Buddhism. These translations were mixed in part with Daoist terms and falsified. In China, there was from the 3rd century for the first time an intellectual debate with Buddhist scriptures. However, this was limited initially to the ruling elites and did not reach the common people. With 102 million followers today but about a quarter of Buddhists in the world live in China.

Tang Dynasty

Only at the beginning of the Tang dynasty continued in the 7th century of Buddhism in width in China. The early rulers of this dynasty posted already a century earlier Buddhist monks to India to perform new translations of Buddhist texts.

Large Buddhist schools

This re- introduction of Buddhist teachings led to an expansion of different Buddhist philosophies embossed. The philosophies are all close to the Mahayana, from which later developed the major Chinese schools of Buddhism.

Tiantai

Tian -tai ( T'ien -t'ai ), named after their parent monastery also Tiantai Zong, built around the year 550, the head monastery on Mount Tian -tai was founded by Hui- se ( 515-567 ) and founded this school their teaching system on the lotus Sutra. The Tiantai school was trying to unite all the philosophical schools of Buddhism. Meditation and study Buddhist teachings were of great importance. The Tiantai school was transferred to Japan later and has established itself under the name of Tendai Buddhist as an independent school.

Huayan

Huayan, and Hua - yen school of flower garland ( School of Avatamsaka Sutra ) called, was built in the period between the years 650 and 750 The focus of this school was on the study of Buddhist philosophy. The core of the philosophical teachings of this school lies in the doctrine of interdependence and interpenetration of all phenomena. The masters of the Huayan developed on this basis a highly refined metaphysical system of teaching, which influenced all other Chinese Buddhist schools.

Chan

In the Chinese Chan ( Ch'an ) was in contrast to the schools mentioned above, the direct experience of things as they are and less the study of Buddhist philosophy today. Therefore meditation in this school has a particularly high priority, as only these can provide access to the realization of ultimate reality.

Was founded the school by the Indian monk Bodhidharma to 523 AD. in which is situated in the northern Chinese province of Henan Shaolin Monastery. Chan developed less monastic structures as Tientai and Huayan. The ideal of the monk was walking in this school in the foreground. In Korea formed from Chan the Seon school and in Vietnam Thien school. Chan Buddhism was transmitted to Japan and later established himself as Zen.

The Pure Land

The different schools of Pure Land have their basis in the Sutra of the Pure Land. According to this sutra, it is important Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to call on the way to enlightenment as an aid, as the era in which originated the Pure Land schools and the later age too are in decline to as a practitioner through their own efforts enlightenment gain. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas reside in so-called pure lands clean areas that are particularly favorable for spiritual development. The repeated invocation of buddhas and bodhisattvas, for example, the Buddha Amituofo (阿弥陀佛, āmítuó Fo Amitabha - Buddha of Infinite Light), shall be the basis to be reborn after death in his pure land of Sukhavati. Since in this school meditation is less important than, for example, Chan, this school of thought is widespread in the broad layers of working ordinary people. The school of Pure Land also was established in Japan and was there by honing Shonin (1133-1212) and his disciple Shinran common.

Mizong

With the Mizong in the late eighth century, the Indian Vajrayana Buddhism was introduced ( a supplement to the Mahayana with esoteric methods) from Central Asia to China. From China, this form of Buddhism came to Japan in the 9th century and became known as the Shingon school.

Suppression and reconstruction in the 20th century

Over the next few hundred years there was Buddhism in China in decline. The revolutionary upheavals of the 20th century, marked mainly by the founding of the People 's Republic of China in 1949, urged the influence of Buddhism back on. Despite the establishment of the first tolerated by the state Chinese Buddhist Society in 1953 proclaimed by Mao Zedong Cultural Revolution finally aimed directly at the destruction of the remaining symbols and organizations of the religious traditions of China. Numerous monasteries were destroyed, public worship predominantly banned, expelled, arrested or killed monks.

Starting the CCP pursued in the 1980s, a more liberal use of religious movements. In connection with the founding of the Chinese Buddhist Society monasteries and temples were increased to be rebuilt and the number of ordained monks and nuns grew. Even in people Buddhism spread again.

Beginning of the 21st century, there are about 100 million practicing followers of Buddhism in China, about 20,000 temples and monasteries with 200,000 monks and nuns. 2006 34 Buddhist schools in China were counted.

To the current legal status and the Chinese policy towards religions:

Main article: Religion in the People's Republic of China

Pictures of Chinese Buddhism

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