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Ethan Kletter

Ms. Diane Nicoll

7th Grade History

October 30, 2017

Buddhism in Asia

The Reunification of China under the Tang dynasty spread buddhism in China, Korea and

Japan.

Buddhism spread in China under the Tang dynasty. Ancient history encyclopedia states

“Buddhism entered China during the ​Han dynasty​ (206 BCE-220 CE):”. One way buddhism

spread was because of a monk named Xuanzang who spent years translating buddhist documents

into Chinese documents spreading his faith. Another way buddhism spread was because the Tang

dynasty leaders made buddhism a big part of daily life. The Tang dynasty leaders had money

sent to monasteries, collected buddhist texts, had statues built and buddhist paintings made.

Buddhism also spread because buddhist monks ran schools, provided medical care and provided

seeds to farmers in need spreading buddhism even more.

Additionally Buddhism Spread in Korea. Ancient history encyclopedia states “The

diffusion of 'Chinese' culture can be seen as a package consisting of a system of governance, a

political philosophy (confucianism), a system of writing, and religion (buddhism).” One way

buddhism spread in Korea was because many Korean monks went to China to study, and brought

back with them the teachings of the various Chinese schools of buddhism. It also spread because

great works of buddhist art were created and magnificent monasteries built. This had great

influence on the life of the Korean people. Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms
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of ​Buddhism​. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from foreign

countries were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new ​holistic​ approach to

Buddhism. This approach is characteristic of virtually all major Korean thinkers, and has resulted

in a distinct variation of Buddhism.

Furthermore Buddhism spread to Japan. Ancient history encyclopedia states “Once

officially adopted, monks, scholars and students were regularly sent to China to learn the tenets

of buddhism in more depth.” In Japan, buddhism was recommended as a means of bringing great

benefit to the country. The Japanese people soon accommodated Buddhism along with their

indigenous Shinto beliefs. Being a religion of universal appeal, Buddhism helped to foster

harmony within the country. Buddhism continued to spread in the eighth century as more new

temples were built in all the provinces, the most famous being the Todaiji Temple at Nara. By

the end of the eighth century two Japanese monks brought two schools of Buddhism to Japan

from China spreading buddhism even more.

As a final point, because of the Tang dynasty in China Buddhism spread in China, Korea

and Japan. Buddhism spread in China because of the Tang dynasty leaders. Great works of art

and buildings were built because of buddhism in Korea. In the eighth century, buddhist schools

were built in Japan. The Tang dynasty leaders made buddhism a big part of daily life in China,

Korea and Japan.

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Works Cited

“Buddhism in East Asia”​ buddhist studies

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/east-asia.htm

“The Spread of Buddhism in Tang China” ​mrkash

http://mrkash.com/activities/spreadofbuddhism.html

“Korean Buddhism” ​Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Buddhism