Buddhism: A Short History by Endrew Conze

Chapter 4
Summary

Prepared by: Salma Faiz Usmani

Chapter 4

The Last Thousand years of Buddhism

AD 1000-1978

Outline
Area:
(India,Nepal,Kashmir, Ceylon, South East Asia, China and Korea, Japan,
Tibet, Mongolia.)
Downfall
Reasons
Revival
Current situation

 INDIA:
Buddhism came to an end by 1200 in many areas of India.It stayed in
some districts like Magadha,Bengal,Orissa and South India for further 200
to 300 years.
Causes for decline in India:
One of the reasons was the Mohammedan invasions. In their fanatical
hatred for what seemed to them “idolatry”, these ruthless conquerors
burned down the flourishing monasteries and universities of Sind and
Bengal, and killed the monks.
Muslim savagery cannot be the whole explanation of the decline and that
for two reasons: Firstly, Hinduism and Jainism, subjected to the same fury,
managed to carry on.
Secondly, in regions which were not touched by the Muslim invasions, as
in Nepal and South India, Buddhism also steadily died out
Then what caused the decline? cause of this decline
must be sought as much within Buddhism as without it.
As a social force an unworldly religion can only
survive because of the support of powerful. Jainism was adhered by
powerful merchants who considered it an honor to support the ascetics.
Buddhism relied on support of kings and did not succeed in doing very
much for the average lay follower. Moreover, Buddhism did not have
separate entity so they merged into Brahmanical system. Monks would
leave the areas where they were unable to live.While Jainism survived
because there were living communities between monks and laymen. They
were less flexible and earth bound so didn’t leave their place and
withstood.
As a spiritual force Buddhism had played itself out.
Corruption was always there and it was healed by reformation. The main
issue was that the creative impulse ceased. They had nothing new to say
any more. So Buddhism got influenced by Hinduism in the course of 1700
year’s co existence. The lines of distinction got blurred. The philosophy of
Nágárjuna had been absorbed into the Vedanta by Gaudapáda. They had
nothing to disagree on. Thus their separate existence no longer served a
useful purpose, so its disappearance was no loss to anyone.
Hostile Criticism on the decline:
1.“Survival of the fittest” as “it is always easy to flog a dead horse”.
Although it may mislead when applied to religions.
2. Everything has its duration. It died out because of old age or sheer
exhaustion. Buddhism in itself never claimed permanence but it was
predicted that it will die out.
 NEPAL:
The Monks fled to Nepal due to Muslim persecution. They took their books
with them which resulted in the flourishment of Pala Buddhism in Nepal.
As far as the quality of manuscript is concerned, the sunskrit manuscript
could not be relied any more in the 19th century and the quality of the art
went down and down steadily.
14th century: two things happened
-Monks transformed themselves into Hindu caste and called themselves
‘banras’ honorable one.
-Gave up celibacy and moved into ‘viharas’ with their families.
As a result, Buddhism could only preserve some of the outward forms of
the religion. Dividing lines were blurred to a level that Mahakala was
worshipped by Hindu as Siva and Visna while as Vajrapani by Buddhist.
19th century: According to Hodgson there were 4 philosophical schools
were there;
Svabhavikes , Aisvarikas, Karmikas, Yatnikas but no one was interested to
be drawn to “the interminable absurdities of the Baudha system”.
Final Blow to Buddhism The conquest of the country by Gurkhas in
1768 was a final blow to Buddhism and the Samgha of homeless monks
disappeared.

 KASHMIR

855-1338 1000--- 1204-1213 1339 1400 1500

-Continous Kashmiri Sakyasribad
decline scholars ra “The Muslim Muslims Buddhis
-Political went to great rule started m as a
disintegratio Tibet Kashmiri began. persecuti distinct
n scholar” Were on of faith
-Buddhism was tolerant Buddhist. came to
and Saivism prominenet at first an end.
merged in Tibet.

 CEYLON
After 1200 there was a collapse. Invasions from India weakened the
central power. Muslim pirates and even Chinese eunuchs ruled over large
stretches of the land. The economic basis of the Samgha became weak.
16th century The long centuries of European rule did great harm to the
Buddhist cause.
 Portugees persecuted Buddhists ,claimed to destroy sacred tooth
and forced them to become Catholics
 Then Dutch
 Then the English
Samgha often died out and monks would be imported from Burma in 17th,
18th and 19th century.
1800 Revival through;
 Theophilosophical society
 Awakening Nationalism
1950 Buddhists took the lead again.
  SOUTH-EAST ASIA

In 1057 King Anawrahta of Págan conquered Thaton to take possession

of the Páli Tipitaka and the relics stored there and imported monks and
scriptures from Ceylon. Mahayana persisted after that and archeology
shows that Mahayana and Theravada flourished side by side during his
time(1044-1283). The flourishment continued till the end of 18th century.It
was later on destructed in 1287 by Mongols.
11th century Tanatrya flourished in combodia
1300— As a result of Thai pressure ,the Theravada replaced it.
14th century The history of Buddhism in Laos seems to have been
introduced in the fourteenth century by Khmer immigrants. In Indonesia
Tantric Buddhism persisted until it was suppressed by Islam, in Sumatra at
the end of the fourteenth century.
15th century saw the final triumph of the Sinhalese school, when king
Dhammaceti of Pegu reintroduced a canonically valid monastic succession
from Ceylon. Ceylonese orthodoxy was imported. Buddhis in Javaspread
from the fifteenth century onwards.
1752 Burma was united again.
after 1852 the dynasty vigorously patronized the Samgha.
1868-71 a Council at Mandalay corrected the text of the Tipitaka, which
was then incised on 729 marble slabs.
1885 did much harm to the Samgha by destroying the central
ecclesiastical authority. During recent years attempts have been made to
combine Buddhism with Marxism, and also a new method of meditation to
lead to speedier results.
 CHINA
The vigor of Buddhism declined during Sung period. After about AD1000
two schools prevailed; The Amidism of Faith and the meditational school of
Ch’an.
All Ch’an Buddhists believe that one’s own heart is the Buddha. There
were 5 houses of transmission (five Horses) in Ch’an, of which only two
survived. The two schools which survived are Ts’ao-tung-tsung, founded
by Tung-shan Lian-chieh and Lin-chi-tsung. There are 4 doctrines of Ts’ao
Tung which are lenient in nature. Lin Chi has rudeness and abruptness and
it rejected Sutra’s. In Sung times systematic method replaced the
individualistic spontaneity of T’ang masters. It was systemization and
mechanization which assured the survival of Ch’an.The coexistence of
Philosophical schools resulted in absorption.Dieties are carefully blended.
Kuan Ti, the Chinese War God, and Confucius are there enlisted among the
Bodhisattvas.
 Korea
During Koryo Dynasty, particularly between 1140-1390, Buddhism
reached the height of its power. The founder of the dynasty was a pious
Buddhist who had a great role in its protection. The holy scriptures were
carried in front of the kings when they travelled. The aristocracy was main
support till 12th century. Magic spells were practiced commonly. In 1036
the death penalty was abolished and it was decreed that 1 out of 4 sons
should become monk.
Confucianism gained upper hand in 1392 and Buddhism was generally
discouraged.Budhism was a mixture of Ch’an, Amidism and local
superstitions at that time.
 Japan
Japanese Buddhism reached height of originality and creative power
between 1160 and 1260.Amida and Zen schools came into the foreground
after AD1000.
AmidismWork was done on the simplification of Amidism.
The first sect of Amida ,Yuzu Nembutsu saw the way to salvation in the
constant recitation of the “Nembutsu” (Namu Amida Butsu) upto 60,000
times a day. For them all that matters is to “repeat the name of Amida
with all your heart…”.The only path to salvation in these evil days is to
strive to be reborn in Amida’s “Western Paradise”. Good works and
religious exercises no more works. Only faith in Amida is needed.
Second Amida sect was Shin which broke with the monastic traditions.
Constatnt repetition of Amida’s name wasn’t necessary and only once
calling Amida with believing heart will secure birth in Paradise. It has
remained one of the popular sects till date.
The third sect Ji “the time” wasn’t that successful as it regarded faith as
unnecessary.
Fouth devotionalist sect was founded by Nichiren. Its formula was different
from Numbutsu. It is Myoho Renge-kyo, “Homage to the Autra of the Lotus
of the Good Law”.Nichiren always talked about a Hebrew prophet and
demanded the suppression of all sects except his own.
Zen It was great success. One doesn’t wait for enlightenment but it is an
inherent principle. Zen soon spread among the Samurai which soon led to
the cult of Bushido “The way of the Warrior”. The close bond between Zen
and the Japanese national character have often been stressed.
Declineand Revival:
After 1500 the creative power of Buddhism had waned and now its
political power broken.
1603-1867 : There was revival of Confucianism
18th century: Militant Shintoism revived.
1868: Buddhism was disendowed to great extent and it seemed it would
die out altogether.
1890: Its influence increased steadily.
Currently Japanese Zen has aroused great interest in Europe and America
and in D.T Suzuki it has found a very fine interpreter.

 Tibet
Year 1000 was year of revival for Buddhism. Persecution was least felt and
Indian teachers were again invited.1076 was the year of the making of
final establishment of Buddhism.
Atisa is of vital importance who came in 1042 and established Pala
Mahayana in Central Tibet. He worked on the re-establishment of the
religion. He created system of Chronology which was a cycle of 6 years
with 5 elements and 12 animals. Without this chronological system, the
work of the historians would have been impossible. He defined the “Lamp
to Enlightenment” in 3 levels.
Next 400 years saw the formation of 6 Tibetan sects. These sects were
flexible and according to their conditions. There were interactions and
mature borrowing.The sects were;
Bka-ijdam-pa ,Bka-rclyud-pa, Shi-byed-pa , Sa-skya-pa, Nying-ma-pa, Dge-
lugs-pa.
Apart from the establishment of these indigenous schools, three great
achievements are to the credit of Tibetan Buddhism.
 Codification of canonical literature
 Production of enormous indigenous literature
 Buddhist Church became firmly rooted in life of the people
They also succeeded to combine secular and spiritual power in their hand.
Despite this outward success, the reliance of The Great Fifth Lama boded
ill for the future. The Lamaist system became fossilized which showed
more mechanical competence than creative genius.

 Mongolia
Mongols were converted twice to Buddhism (and it played a great role in
the spread of Buddhism).
First conversion happened in 1261.The ability of Tibetans to do magic
impressed Mongols. Lamas performed tricks in front of Great Khan. As a
result Lamas took over many of the magical rites which were formerly
performed by shamans. The legislation imposed to forbid all shamanistic
practices. Lamas became financially strong and as a result built
monasteries in Peking and China.During Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368) they
acquired great power.
Second conversion happened in 1577. A lot of intellectual work was done
by Mongols. They translated Holy Scriptures and built many thousands of
splendid monasteries. They also established monasteries in Iran in 13 th
century conquest.
For over 300 years the devotion of Mongols towards Buddhism was
distinguished because of its intensity. It is no surprise that people turned
to something else in 14th century due to exhaustion as in Korea.

THE PRESENT SITUATION

Before 1950 ,there was effort for survival and after 1950 it emerged as
social force.Buddhism is only factor common to Asians from Indus and
Hindukush to Kyoto and Java.Asians now have withdrawn their interest
from religion to social and political matters. Prime motive of this age is
Nationalistic and self assertion. Asians can take pride in a common
religion which is not only 5 centuries older than of West but also has been
unstained due to wars. In the history, the best times of a country were
when Buddhism was in power there.
Mongolia: Budhism is Extint.
In China : Persecutions happened and Buddhist monuments are treated
as museums and Budhist beliefs as superstitions.
Tibet:
 Dalai Lama had to flee in 1959.
 The Holy land of Tibet no more exists.
 Feudal social structure is dismantled.
 Artifacts are destroyed.
 Industrializing and materialized society.
 Its purpose is not faith but to guard China.
The main problem is the differences between Communists and Buddhists
which are bound to clash. The society which is dedicated to material
wealth and uncontrolled growth of technology will surely clash with
otherworldliness, calmness and serenity of Buddhism.
ThailandThe monarchy handed over the country to military fearing the
communists. Buddhists monks were seen to sprinkle water on American
tanks which assured the final success of communism there also.
JapanThe 1945 invasion by America brought financial ruin to the
monasteries. It also resulted in general trend towards profanity and
nationalistic Buddhism. The Nicherian sect people are craftsmen and
merchants, all humble, common, ordinary people with intent to improve
the quality of their daily lives. Buddhism here attempted to come to terms
with the “American Century”.
Considerable work has been done in recent years in Burma, Thailand,
Japan and Ceylon to keep alive and revive ancient meditations.
Spread of Buddhism to the West
Buddhism has absorbed in Capitalist countries in 3 different levels.
 The philosophical reception which began in 1819.
 The literature caught the interest of many scholars.
 The formation of smaller nonconformist sects helped spread
Buddhism.
However, if Buddhist worry about whether Buddhist institutuions can
maintain a foothold in our present world, they will depart from their
spiritual forebears.