Activities...
Games
Lesson Plan
Quiz
Extra...
Indira Gandhi National
Centre for the Arts
has pictures of buddhist cave paintings with lots of information
East
Asian Language and Thought
this is another excellent source for texts and information
Chinese
Culture Page
this is a good source for info on Buddhism with lots of images. You have
to scroll down the page
The Indian religion of Buddhism originated in about 6th Century B.C., and spread along the Silk Road to China by 100 A.D. It was founded by a prince of northern India, Gautama Buddha. The prince lived a sheltered life when growing up, and upon first witnessing the suffering of the people in his country, questioned the purpose of being alive. He then left home to search for truth, and wandered for many years before arriving at the answers he sought. He became the "Buddha", or the "Enlightened One", and had many followers. The Buddha's teachings spread to China by traders and missionaries many centuries later, became a widely accepted faith in China by 6th Century A.D., and rose as the most prominent religion in the Tang Dynasty.
Buddhism offers the concept that life is suffering. To reach salvation, one must rid itself of all earthly desires and attachments; or else misery is endless. The belief offers hope in its philosophy that the soul can learn its lesson and free itself from the cycle of rebirth. Reincarnation is taught as the rebirth of the soul into a new body. The goal of life is to reach "nirvana", which is the state of heavenly peace in which the soul is released from the suffering of earthly life.
A key factor that contributed to the dominance of the Buddhist faith during the Tang Dynasty was its devout leaders. Empress Wu, the single female rule in Chinese history, was among the many leaders that were partial to Buddhism. From pious rulers, of course, come a pious people.
Buddhist temples and monasteries filled the nation at this time, but in 755, An Lushan led a revolt against Xuanzong Emperor, causing Tang powers to weaken. Wealth in China thus declined, and along with it the international influence. This led to opposition to foreign influences, including the Buddhist faith.
Buddhism also had a negative effect on the economy. Too many workers were away from farms. Monks and nuns didn't marry, so the labor force grew at too slow a pace. Monasteries served as inns, hospitals, or public baths and did not have to pay taxes. It slowly brought people to the realization that Tang powers must be restored.
In the 840s, a Taoist emperor took over, and this religion lost its prominence. Buddhism was not outlawed, but over 4,000 monasteries and more than 40,000 shrines were destroyed; about 250,000 monks, nuns, and servants went back the their farms.
