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It
was the period from the dawn of the later Han dynasty (25-220 CE) to the
fall of the Western Chin dynasty (265-317 CE) to the Huns that Buddhism
was introduced into China by immigrants from Persia, Central
Asia, and India. During
this time, Buddhism was at |
at first considered
an insignificant cult practiced by immigrants or a foreign corruption
of Taoism, but did finally assert its own independent identity as it drew
more attention from native Chinese followers. After the fall of the Western Chin, the Chinese withdrew south to Nan king and established the Eastern Chin dynasty, which was succeeded by a series of weak governments. The conquered North was occupied and divided between various sinicized peoples, who soon were warring with one another. Hence began the 'North and South Dynasties' period (317-581), which resembles the feudal periods in Europe and Japan. In the South, the upper classes that devoted their lives to academics and literature began to explore Buddhism, often discovering it through Neo-Taoism. At the same time, Buddhism was adopted and promoted by many of the occupying dynasties in the North, where it eventually would achieve a popularity nearing the status of a state religion. Kumarajiva arrived and established the first Imperial translation bureau in the North, while a well-read sangha in the South studiously examined the scriptures and developed the first beginnings of a Chinese Buddhism theology. This period closes with the reunification of China under the Sui dynasty. |
During the short-lived Sui dynasty (581-618), the North and South traditions of Buddhism were united. At the end of the Sui and during the opening years of the Tang dynasty (618-907), a series of Chinese Buddhists emerged to establish the major Chinese sects. Zhiyi's (Chih-i's) teachings would be written down by disciples and become the founding philosophy of the Tiantai School. Jizang (Chi-tsang) would bring the Chinese Madhyamika to its zenith by reviving the Sanlun School. Shandao (Shan-tao) would popularize the already established Pure Land School. Shenhui (Shen-hui) emerged claiming Huineng's (Hui-neng's) lineage and established the Southern school of the Chan. Zhiyan (Chih-yen) laid down the groundwork for the Huayen School. Xuanzang (Hsuan-tsang) would return from his pilgrimage to India and organize the last, and greatest, of the Chinese translation bureaus. His disciple Kuiji (Kuei-chi) would establish a new Yogacaran sect, the Faxiang School. All of these schools and others would enjoy a period of state religion status under the first couple centuries of the T'ang dynasty. This period closes with the catastrophic persecutions at the hands of reactionary Tang emperors and the collapse of the Tang dynasty. |
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