Spread Of Buddhism Dbq Essay

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Buddhism spread widely throughout India, thanks to King Asoka, the third ruler of the Mauryan Empire, who converted to Buddhism after the devastation he witnessed after the battle of Kalinga. Asoka helped spread Buddhism throughout his kingdom which went beyond its boundaries till the southern tip of India. In India, Buddhism was mainly accepted by members of lower castes because it gave them an opportunity to escape the rigid caste system of Hinduism. During the times of political disorder and instability, Buddhism spread rapidly throughout China. It was targeted towards all Chinese people regardless of social status. However, it was not widely accepted by the elite and aristocrats because it went against established Confucian beliefs. Therefore, …show more content…
The importance and positive benefits of Buddhism, as it spread across China, were tremendous. Several authors and scholars looked at Buddhism from a positive angle and provided and informed readers about the importance of Buddhism. For example, a renowned scholar, Zhi Dun presented his views and tried to convince the audience that anyone who followed the path to Buddhism would be enlightened and achieve nirvana when he or she died. Zhi Dun’s writings appeared during the period of unrest in China on account of the invasion by central Asian steppe nomads (Document 2). The purpose of the first sermon preached by Buddha was centered on the Four Noble Truths, which were the foundation of Buddhism (Document 1). The Four Noble Truths uncovered the causes of human suffering and provided the cure. Zong Mi, the Buddhist scholar, wrote about Buddhism being challenged in China during the Tang dynasty. In order to maintain his status at the imperial court, he provided his point of view objectively by comparing the similarities in the teachings of Confucius, Laozi, and the Buddha (Document 5). Apart from the religious beliefs and teachings, Buddhism also reformed the material world of the Chinese. Buddhism brought along with it new signs, structures, and ritual implements, in addition to the novel ways of intermingling with these objects. This lasting impact allowed Buddhism to take root in
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Buddhism DBQ Buddhism was founded in India during the sixth century B.C.E. It then at a later time was brought to China by the first century C.E. and started to win converts after the collapse of the Han dynasty. Due to the spread of Buddhism in China between 220 C.E. and 570 C.E. there were both negative and positive responses. Those who obtained position of high power or distinction were unsatisfied while lower social classes took a liking toward Buddhism. In the Han dynasty those who supported Buddhism and looked at it positively…

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