Why Is Buddhism So Popular In China?
In China, Buddhism has been developing for more than twenty years. The majority of the Chinese population is devoted to this spirituality. But what are the precepts of Buddhism?
How did Buddhism convince the Chinese ?
Historical dates of Buddhism in China
THE Buddhism spreads in China for decades and has evolved since the 1949s. For several years, the Buddhist religion faced several challenges, the most serious of which was the lack of financial resources. It was only a few years later, in the 1980s, that countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia contributed to the reconstruction of monasteries and temples to revive the Chinese Buddhism.
THE lay chinese became interested in Buddhism again and returned to Buddhist practices and rituals in the mid-1990s. According to Chinese lay census results, about 20% of adults identify as Buddhist. Although this percentage is small, it only includes respondents. Indeed, the Buddhist conversion in China is not formal enough. Additionally, Mahayana Buddhism currently has over one hundred million lay people. The number of employees has increased significantly since 2003.
Entry of Buddhism into China
Buddha has always been perceived as a unique and golden character. In the first century AD, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty asked Buddhist missionaries arriving in China to bring back Buddhist texts. That is why the spread of Buddhism in the country is spontaneous and progressive and offers a new vision of life through salvation. The religion was very quickly adopted by the Chinese.
Thus, in the 2nd century of the same period, the first Buddhist shrines were established and documented. The monks and nuns of the shrines were from Central Asia. Two centuries later, from the 4th century, Buddhism became the most powerful religious institution in China.
Growth of Buddhism in China
There rise in power of this religion has been underlined for several decades in China. The story of chinese buddhism It’s incredible. From the 5th century of the Tang era, a canonical translation society was in charge of translating Buddhist texts in Chinese into Central Asian and Indian languages. These translated texts are still visible in Chinese monasteries and are perceived as a sacred heritage. This led to theopening of Buddhist schools of thoughtwhich continues to this day.
Buddhism is considered the main monastic institution and religion of Chinese society. Monks and nuns ensure the sharing of values and the dissemination of Buddhist ideas. This revolution of Chinese Buddhism is the subject of religious tourism in China. Therefore, the popularity of the religion goes beyond other religions such as Taoism and Christianity.
General information on Buddha and Buddhism
Guatama Siddhartha, lived several decades before our era. Known as Buddhait serves as reference in Buddhist spirituality. After its illumination, it serves as a landmark andanchoring to Buddhists. Being the Illuminated, he taught the truths he discovered during his deep meditation under the pagoda of the fugiers. Over the past thirty years, there has been an increasing number of Buddhist followers and practitioners. Buddhism is a spirituality based on several principles such as life, salvation, law, reality and change.
Each principle has a purpose, meaning and meaning. Nevertheless, all these four precepts form the universe of Buddhism. Since the time of Buddha 2500 years ago, Buddhism has spread all over the world and this diffusion has even become borderless.
Nirvana in Buddhism
THE nirvana is the main objective of Buddhists. The realization of such truth is their raison d’etre and their inspiration. Nirvana is defined as the state of Buddha when he is awake, that is, when he has been illuminated under the bodhi tree. He is the only being of his time to have undergone the cycle of samsara, because at the time of his death he ceased to be born and reborn. That is why it is said that he reached nirvana before he died. It is irrefutable proof of the possibility of nirvana. According to his teaching, know yourself is the main means by which man can achieve this.
Then there isself-acceptance and theapprehension of one’s own suffering whatever its nature. Therefore, knowing the causality of our suffering is also an imperative in nirvana. It is good to remember that attachments and desires are usually the root of our suffering. To accommodate this contextual stress would make it easier for us to get rid of anxiety, anxiety, and all kinds of issues like that.
The main currents of Buddhism
The spread of Buddhism and practices related to this spirituality has increased over the past fifty years. Well-being, wisdom and peace are the sources of motivation for new members and followers. Here are the main currents of Buddhism that are still present today:
– Theravada : Also known as hinayana, this first category of Buddhism is none other than its traditional form. Some Buddhists call it ” the small vehicle because the practices and rituals undertaken by countries like Ceylon, Laos, Burma, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal and Thailand are true to the original, i.e. the era of the Buddha.
– Mahayana : this second category of Buddhism known under the name of The Great Vehicle ” is a merger Buddhist practices traditional and Buddhism modern. It adapts to the different cultures and socio-cultural practices of today. The Mahayana consists of Vajrayana – practices centered on the “Dhâranis” or magic formulas, the “Mudrâs” or magic signs and the “Mandâras” or magic prayers –; of the pure land – recitation of the name of Amithaba Buddha and practices with the rosary –; and of Dhyana –“Zen” Buddhism focused on meditation–.
