Buddhism and Anonymous Chinese Scholar

The responses to the spread of Buddhism in China vary in many ways. Some rejecting the spread, while others supporting it, either way, it spread quickly and effectively. Even though the majority rejected Buddhism, it did not stay that way for long. In the beginning of its spread, Buddhism was not accepted very much. As stated by Han Yu, a Confucian scholar and official at the Tang imperial court, Buddhist ways differed very much from the Chinese traditional ways. For example, Han Yu stated that Buddha's manner of dressing didn’t conform to the Chinese laws, he did not speak Chinese, and his sayings did not contain anything about the ancient Chinese kings. This bothered many loyal Chinese citizens for it poisoned the customs of their nation, as stated by Emperor Wu of the Tang dynasty. Another reason for the rejection of Buddhism in China was that Buddhists didn't contribute to society according to the Chinese. The Buddhists, as stated by an anonymous Chinese scholar forsake wives and children, reject property, and wealth. Emperor Wu also went on to say that Buddhists don’t work, or help society advance and that if one man fails to work the fields, then someone will go hungry, and if a woman does not tend her silkworm, then someone will go cold. Even though the Chinese were not that accepting with Buddhism, it soon became a mix of supporters and rejecters of Buddhism. An anonymous Chinese scholar went on to stating two questions and answers towards Buddhism. The questions being critical, and the answers supporting Buddhism to represent the neutrality about the subject. One of the questions claims that Buddhism shouldn't be taken seriously because the Confucian sages never practiced nor wrote about it. The answer basically says that all written works don’t need to be related to Confucianism, and that to compare sages to Buddha would be an insult to Buddha. (END OF 45 MINS) Zhi Dun, a Chinese scholar, most likely neutral on the Buddhist spread, stated that whoever does what Buddha says will behold him and enter Nirvana. The Four Noble Truths, claimed to be the first sermon preached by Buddha, describes sorrow and how to overcome it. This attracted many Chinese for everyone wishes to be able to overcome sorrow. Also Zong Mi, a leading Buddhist scholar from the early ninth century C.E. stated that Confucius, Laozi, and Buddha all had acceptable teachings and demands, and that all of them should be respected, therefore announcing that since Buddhists respect Confucianism, Confucianism followers should also respect Buddhism. The spread of Buddhism was in many ways beneficial to the Chinese society, even though many at first claimed it to be detrimental. An additional article stating the benefits of Buddhism to later Chinese societies would have been helpful to further analyze the spread of Buddhism in China.