Basic Timeline. c BCE: Formation of Brahmanism

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Regina Wilkerson
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Basic Timeline c.1500-1000 BCE: Formation of Brahmanism c.1000-500 BCE: Migration toward Ganges, followed by urbanization around River Ganges, and the formation of jatis. c. 400 BCE: Buddha and other critics of Brahmanism c.

1 Basic Timeline c BCE: Formation of Brahmanism c BCE: Migration toward Ganges, followed by urbanization around River Ganges, and the formation of jatis. c. 400 BCE: Buddha and other critics of Brahmanism c. 3 rd century BCE: Reign of King Ashoka and the spread of Buddhism in southern Asia 1 st century BCE-1 st century CE: spread of Buddhism to Han China c. 1 st -3 rd centuries CE: Kushans and the creation of Buddhist networks c : The Gupta Empire, deurbanization, revival of Brahmanism 5 th century: Establishment of Nalanda University c. 7 th century: Emergence of vajrayana (esoteric Buddhism) 12 th century: Destruction of Buddhist institutions in eastern India

2 Why did the Chinese accept Buddhism?

3 Early History of Buddhism in China: Debunked Theories The dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, leading to the arrival of the first Indian monks, and the establishment of the first Buddhist monastery in East Asia (the White Horse/Baima Monastery) The Role of Central Asia as the staging point of Buddhist transmission to China The use of Daoist terminology in early Buddhist translations

4 EMPEROR MING S DREAM: A LATER FABRICATION Emperor Wudi Worshiping Buddha: DID NOT HAPPEN White Horse Monastery: NOT THE FIRST BUDDHIST MONASTERY IN EAST ASIA

5 Tan Chung and Geng Yinzeng, India and China: Twenty Centuries of Civilizational Interactions and Vibrations (2005) The story begins with Han Emperor Ming dreaming of, in 64 A.D., a golden Buddha flying over his palace. This led to China s extending an invitation for Buddhism to bless the country. This invitation mobilized Chinese officials and monks to brave the hazards and perils of a long journey to the Buddhist shrines in India. Then, this flow of pilgrims stimulated a counterflow of Indian Buddhist preachers towards China, for helping to establish Buddhist institutions.

6 Sanchi Stupas in India and China Sanchi Stupa in India Sanchi Stupa at the White Horse Monastery

7 Emperor Ming s Edict of 65 CE The king of Chu recites the subtle words of Huanglao, and respectfully performs the gentle sacrifices to the Buddha. After three months of purification and fasting, he has made a solemn covenant (or: a vow) with the spirits. What dislike or suspicion (from Our part) could there be, that he must repent (of his sins)? Let (the silk which he sent for) redemption be sent back, in order thereby to contribute to the lavish entertainment of the upāsakas (yipusai) and śramaṇas (sangmen). (Hou Han Shu [History of the Later Han Dynasty], composed in 5 th century CE; translated by Zürcher) Buddhist terms also mentioned in 2 nd century works Dongguan Hanji and Xijing fu

8 Interior of Cave IX, Ma Hao, Sichuan Province

9 Seated Buddha in Cave IX, Ma Hao, Sichuan Province. Dated to the late 2ndfirst half of 3rd century

10 Seated Buddha and two attendants, Late Han Tomb at Pengshan, Sichuan Province

11 Buddhist engravings on Mount Kongwang

12 Donor figures, Mount Kongwang The parinirvana of the Buddha, Mount Kongwang

14 Trade Routes and the Spread of Buddhism

15 King, royalty, officials, traders, workers, etc. 國王, 王族, 官員商人, 工匠等卐 CITY A 卐卐卐 CITY A 卐某某市卐卐某某市 CITY B 卐卐商道 Trade route COUNTRYB COUNTRY A 甲囯丙囯

17 Early Buddhism in China 1 st Century BCE?: Transmission of images directly from southern Asia to China ( long-distance rather than contact expansion ), in disorganized instead of in an organized way, and perhaps before the chaos marking the end of the Eastern Han dynasty in late-2 nd -early 3 rd century or dissatisfaction with Confucian teachings. 65 CE: Buddhist terms known to the Han court c. 65 CE: Possible presence of Buddhist monks and laypeople in Pengcheng/Luoyang Han China (by the third century CE): Early amalgamation of indigenous and Buddhist ideas, especially at the folk level (Mount Kongwang, Han Tombs)

18 Factors Contributing to the Successful Penetration of Buddhism into Chinese Society Misconceived notion of the Buddha and Buddhism Early amalgamation with folk beliefs and art Flexibility with which Buddhism could be practiced and the doctrines modified The multiethnic nature of transmission and amalgamation Timing and circumstances: Long-distance trade and interest in immortality

19 The Buddhist Transformation of China and the Chinese Transformation of Buddhism

20 Timeline: Buddhism in China 1 st century BCE-1 st - Century CE: Introduction of Buddhist images and ideas 3 rd Century CE-581CE: Translation of Buddhist texts, missionary work of foreign monks, Chinese pilgrimage to southern Asia, political support for Buddhism by rulers in China (Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty), popularity of apocryphal texts 6 th century onwards: Domestication/Sinification of Buddhism, founding of Chinese schools, Chinese pilgrimage sites, the emergence of China as one of the central realms of Buddhism, reverse transmission of Buddhism (Manjusri on Mount Wutai) 18 th -19 th centuries: Spread of Chinese Buddhism to India with Chinese immigrants

21 Early Translation and Translators Recitation of Buddhist Text Oral Translation Writing Down of the Chinese Translation Editing of the Chinese Translation Parthians: An Shigao & An Xuan Indo-Scythians: Zhi Loujiachen (Lokaksema?) & Zhi Qian Sogdians: Kang Mengxiang & Kang Senghui Indian: Zhu Shuofo Chinese: Yan Fotiao

22 Geyi 格義 Since the Buddhist of this period were familiar with the external or Taoist literature, it is not surprising to find them having recourse to Taoist texts for words and phrases to use in their translations. This practice of the Buddhist of searching through Chinese literature, mainly Taoist, for expression to explain their own ideas is known as ke-yi (geyi), or the method of matching the meaning. This method was used especially by the translators of the Prajñā sutras for the purpose of making Buddhist thought more easily understood by the Chinese. (Kenneth Ch en 1964: 68)

23 Problems with Geyi 1) the English translation of geyi as matching the meaning is incorrect since the Chinese character ge 格 rather than meaning matching stands for lattice ; 2) geyi was meant to deal with the numerical categories of Buddhist doctrines (shishu 事數 ), lit. enumeration of items ); 3) geyi was not a translation technique but an exegetical method; and 4) geyi was an extremely short-lived phenomenon. ----Victor H. Mair

24 Dunhuang Cave Painting

25 Yungang Caves

26 Buddhist Relics and Images in China

27 Mount Wutai and the Sinification of Buddhism

28 From (a male) Avalokitesvara to the (female) Guanyin

29 The Integration of Buddhism into Translation Projects Chinese Society Chinese Commentaries Creation of Apocryphal Texts Sinification of Buddhism: Formation of Chinese Buddhist Schools, Establishment of Sacred Buddhist Sites in China, and the Emergence of Chinese Buddhas

30 Buddhist Transformation of China Impact on Chinese concept of afterlife, the notions of hell(s) and heaven(s) Influence on Chinese art, literature, language, cuisine (introduction of sugar, for example), material culture, and economy Impact of Buddhist ideas about renunciation, action and retribution, meditation, monastic life, millennial eschatology Buddhist role in trade and diplomacy Brought about changes in the Chinese perception of the world Kingship and statecraft Multiculturalization of China?

31 Pilgrimage and Chinese Buddhist Pilgrims The concept of pilgrimage 朝拜 to a foreign region The purpose of pilgrimage: proximity to the holy land, the founder of the religion Pilgrimage of Chinese monks (Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing) to India: Procurement of Buddhist texts 取經?

32 Contribution of the Chinese Pilgrims to the Buddhist Interactions between India and China Knowledge of the Buddhist holy land Perception of India as a holy land Description of the practice of Buddhism in India (and differences with Chinese Buddhism) Procurement of Buddhist texts Translation activity

33 Questions We Need to Ask What impact did the pilgrimages have on the Buddhist interactions between India and China? What were the pilgrims main sources of information about India? What sort of historical evidence do the travelogues of the Chinese pilgrims provide to the understanding of early medieval Buddhism? How reliable are these records?

34 Syllabus August 19: Overview of the Buddhist Interactions between India and China August 20: The Pilgrimage of Chinese Monks to South Asia Required Reading: Sen, Tansen. The Travel Records of Chinese Pilgrims Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing. Barrett, T.H. Exploratory Observations on Some Weeping Pilgrims. Eckel, M.D. Chapter 3: Interpreting the Signs of the Buddha. August 21: Faxian and his Pilgrimage to India (1) Required Reading: Chapters 1-20 from Faxian (Website) August 22: Faxian and his Pilgrimage to India (2) Required Reading: Chapters from Faxian August 23: Xuanzang and his Pilgrimage to India (1) Required Reading: Kuwayama Shoshin: How did Xuanzang Learn about Nalanda. Selections from Da Tang Xiyu ji (Website) August 24: Xuanzang and his Pilgrimage to India (2) Required Reading: Selections from Da Tang Xiyu ji (Website) Jan Yun-hua on Huichao. August 25: Yijing and his Pilgrimage to India (1) Required Reading: Selections from Yijing s Records of Buddhist Practices. August 26: Conclusion and Student Presentations

The Spread of Buddhisms, Part 1

The Spread of Buddhisms, Part 1 From South Asia to China Tansen Sen Baruch College, The City University of New York Key Issues Many Buddhisms and piecemeal transmissions The economics of Buddhisms State