This file is copyright of Jens Schriver (c) It originates from the Evil House of Cheat More essays can always be found at: --- http://www.CheatHouse.com --- ... and contact can always be made to: Webmaster@cheathouse.com -------------------------------------------------------------- Essay Name : 688.txt Uploader : Email Address : Language : english Subject : Religion Title : Buddhism in China: A Historical Survey Grade : B School System : Hofstra University Country : USA Author Comments : Book report Teacher Comments : none Date : 10-29-96 Site found at : surfpoint -------------------------------------------------------------- Buddhism in China: A Historical Survey by Kennet K.S. Ch'en With the book Buddhism in China: A Historical Survey by Kenneth K.S. Ch'en, professor Ch'en has made a great contribution to those who study Buddhism. His book deals with the study of Buddhism in China, this is important because of the influence of Buddhism on the Chinese way of life throughout history. Buddhism was founded by an Indian prince, Gautama Sakyamuni, who lived during the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. He was the son of the king of a tiny state at the foot of the Himalayas and was brought up amidst the luxuries and pleasures befitting one of his birth and class. However, unlike other Indian princes, Sakyamuni soon became disenchanted with the life of sensual pleasures he was leading, and left the sheltered, comfortable, and luxurious life of the home to become a religous mendicant. After years of religous striving he attained enlightenment at the age of thirty-five and there after was known as the Buddha. The next forty-five years of his life were spent in preaching his message to his fellow men and at the age of eighty he died. The introduction of Buddhism into china constitutes a major event in the history of cultural relations between China and India. By the 3rd century, Buddhist thought began to play an increasingly important role in Chinese philosophy, the development of which had been, up to this point, indigenous. During the centuries that followed, the best Chinese minds were attracted to Buddhism. Several schools of Budhhism were imported from India, and several more developed in china. Buddhism in China Championed the idea of universal salvation and made room for sudden enlightment. The book is presented in five parts, "Introduction", "Growth and Domestication", "Maturity and Acceptance", "Decline", and the "Conclusion". In the "Introduction", Ch'en presents a short sketch of the origins of Buddhism in India and also tells the story of Buddhism under Han in China. In "Growth and Domestication" we are given the history of Buddhism in China from the begining of the 3rd century to the begining of the 7th century. "Maturity and acceptance" details the history of Buddhism under the T'ang dynasty. The "decline" talks about the decline of the religon from the end of the ninth century until today. In the book, Ch'en tells us the history of Buddhism in China with great precision and examines all its aspects. The author not only listed events, but analyzed there meaning and showed how these events affected diffrent communities economically, politically and spiritually. In his book, Ch'en also describes the huge work of translation of the Indian Buddhist scriptures, the cultural and disciplinary practices, the doctrines of the various sects and schools, the organization of the monastaries and the administration of there properties, and finally the masterpicies of Buddhist art in China. Ch'en explains why Buddhism, a foregin religon, spread so widely in China, why it had such a large influence over the life and the history of the country, how and why it changed little by little into a genuine Chinese Buddhism. Finally we are told why Chinese Buddhism has decyed during the last millenium. In "conclusion" Ch'en lists the contributions of Buddhism to Chinese culture in various fields. I found the book to be very intensive which at times became boring. I don't think that this is a good book to pick up as an introductory book on the subject, the book seems to be geared more towards a scholar or researcher. In my oppinion Ch'en exahusts every item that he deals with to the point of putting the reader to sleep. The book had some parts that I found very interesting, in particular the final chapter. This chapter detailes the contributions that Buddhism made to Chinese culture in various feilds. These feilds included language, where new terms coined by the Buddhists made their way into the chinese vocabulary, phonology, where the introduction of the Sanskrit alphabet into China influenced phonological studies, and in astronomy and calendrical studies. The part I found most interesting was the Buddhist contributions to medicine. Buddhism paid a great deal of attention to health and the prevention and cure of maladies. As a matter of fact the Buddha called his teachings a therapy for the ills of the world. One of the basic theories held by the Indians was that the physical body consisted of four great elements: earth water fire and air. It was believed that when these four elements were in equilibrium the body was healthy, when they were not, the body became ill. In conclusion, I would not recomend this book unless you are a scholar or have a vested intrest in the subject, or if you have a lot of free time. --------------------------------------------------------------