Response To Buddhism Dbq Essay

POV: why did the author write this at the this time
EVIDENCE: analyze do not summarize quotes
ADDRESSED/UNDERSTOOD

INTRODUCTION
Although Chinese scholars and Buddhists embraced Buddhism into China as it gave a sense of equality and comfort, others essentially responded toward this religion with negative disapproval and was seen as a threat. However, Confucian scholars and Emperors evidently show a more fair minded response toward Buddhism.

COMPARE
Buddhism was greatly praised and welcomed into china as it was brought by the first century. The influence of Buddhism gradually gained converts over time and was supported by Buddha and Chinese scholars.{topic sentence} Buddha highly welcomes this religion, though as a Buddhist who
was praised by many people, he most likely used this advantage to influence a large amounts of people to convert through his sermons that were used to teach truth, arising, and stopping of sorrow. (Doc 1) His establishment of the four noble truths was set as a basic principles of Buddhism and used to inform people of the equality of suffering and the ability to stop suffering. (Doc 1) His sermons was a reflective belief depicted in the four noble truths. In addition, the influence of Buddhism was not only reflected upon Buddha but Chinese scholar, Zhi Dun as well. As a confidant of Chinese aristocrats and high officials, he admires Buddhism as a leading path to Nirvana. (Doc 2) As a scholar with a high status, he was most likely not affected by the invasion of steppe nomads and therefore, did not demonstrate how lower classes felt during that time. HIs argument is also understandable due to the time it was also written in. With a high social status, he was most likely to turn to spiritual teachings to exemplify security towards people.

CONTRAST After the restorations of the imperial structure, Buddhism was responded negatively by Confucian scholars and Chinese emperors.
Anonymous Chinese Scholar presents his argument against Buddhism as a sense of a barbarian cult and is therefore evil. (Doc 4)

Although Buddhism was responded with disapproval by chinese scholars , Emperors such as Emperor Wu also contribute toward the negative responses of Buddhism. Emperor Wu defense of Buddhism reflects the abolishment of Buddhism as it was foreign and destroyed families. (Doc 6) However, Emperor Wu’s implication that Buddhism outshine the imperial palace suggests that he was jealous of Buddhism gaining wealth, converts, and the possibility that Buddhism can outshine his own palace.( Doc 6)

NEUTRAL While the influence of Buddhism brought negative and positive responses from Chinese and Confucian scholars, Emperors, and Buddhists, it also brought an unbiased response toward Buddhism from Buddhist and Chinese scholars. An Anonymous Chinese scholar presents an unbiased response with the use of questions and answers.( Doc3) Although the scholar establishes a set of questions and answers that give a guide to defend buddhism against HOSTILE questions, he shows a sense of coexistence between Buddhism and COnfucianism. ( Doc 3) In addition, Zong MI, a Buddhist scholar also shares his unbiased response toward Confucius, Laozi, and Buddha. H e aARGUES for equality of all the philosophies as well as emphazies that they all lead to
the creation of an orderly society. (Doc 5)

Additional information of graphs depicting Buddhism converts would be helpful in determining whether Buddhist, Chinese, and Confucian scholars along with Chinese Emperors influenced the spread of Buddhism in China.