The Chinese initially encountered Buddhism at
the beginning of the first century, when merchants and monks came to China
 over
the
Silk Road. At the time of the Three Kingdoms (AD220-280), the
religion spread in each of the three states. Buddhism was most influential
in Chinese history during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Several emperors officially
supported the religion.
In the course of time, 10 Chinese schools of Buddhism emerged, eight of
which were essentially philosophical ones that did not influence popular
religion.
Since the 7th century, the ascetic bodhisattva has been a popular female
figure in China. She is called Guanyin, a goddess of mercy who represents
a central deity for the ordinary people. Guanyin means "the one who
listens to complaints".
In the 7th century AD, another type of Buddhism, called Tantric Buddhism
or Lamaism, was introduced into Tibet from India. It replaced the indigenous
religion, while at the same time taking over some of the elements of this
naturalist religion. In Lamaism, a complex pantheon exists; apart from the
Buddhist deities, there are figures from the Brahman and Hindu world of
gods and the old Bon religion.
In 1949, the year the PRC was founded, there were approximately 500,000
Buddhist monks and nuns, and 50,000 temples and monasteries. A number of
well-known Buddhist temples were classified as historical monuments. By
the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, it seemed as if the Red
Guards were intent on completely eradicating Buddhism. Only a few important
monasteries and cultural objects could be protected from their destruction
and completely or only partly preserved. |
