Although there is controversy about the exact time when Buddhism was introduced into China, it is estimated from the records of the "Wei Luo Xirong Biography" that the introduction of Buddhism into China can be traced back to the end of the Western Han Dynasty. The 10th year of Emperor Yongping (67 AD) of the Ming Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty is generally regarded as a symbolic moment when Buddhism was introduced to China. During this period, Cai Yu and others went to the Western Regions to introduce Buddhism, marking the beginning of Buddhism to take root in China.
Inheritance and development of Buddhism.
According to records, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty became interested in Buddhism because of his dream of the Golden People at night, and sent envoys to the Western Regions to seek the way of Buddhism. In 67 A.D., Cai Su and others invited Jiaye Morteng and Zhu Falan to return to China to promote Buddhism and introduce Buddha statues and Buddhist scriptures to the capital Luoyang. The White Horse Temple became a reception institution for foreign religious figures, and the translation of scriptures flourished. However, due to the language barrier, it is difficult to accurately express the meaning of the translation, resulting in limited initial results.
The influx of monks from the Western Regions.
Subsequently, monks from the Western Regions, such as An Shigao, An Xuan, Zhi Lou Jiayu, Zhi Yao, Zhu Foshuo, and Kang Mengxiang, came to China one after another, promoting the further development of the cause of translating scriptures. The translated Buddhist scriptures cover Mahayana and Hinayana texts, including ashramana, abhidhamma, Buddha traditions, and prajna. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism was courteous to all social classes and became a popular religion.
The turmoil and transformation of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
However, by the time of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty and Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Buddhism had suffered a devastating blow. The Northern Wei Dynasty was a minority regime established by the Xianbei Tuoba tribe, which lasted 171 years after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao ascended the throne in 424 and developed a negative attitude towards Buddhism. Taoism became the state religion, Kou Qianzhi was revered as the national teacher, while Cui Hao opposed Buddhism, which was regarded as a false and harmful. In the fourth year of Taiyan (438), an edict was issued requiring Buddhist monks to return to the laity, which restricted the development of Buddhism for the first time.
The cause of Emperor Taiwu's campaign to destroy Buddhism.
According to the Book of Wei, the Gaiwu Rebellion in the sixth year of Taiping Zhenjun (445) became the trigger for Emperor Taiwu's reversal of his attitude towards Buddhism. In the process of countering the rebellion, Emperor Taiwu discovered a large number of weapons in the monastery, as well as some monks involved in illegal activities. He believed that the Buddhists were involved in the rebellion, so he ordered the burning of Buddha statues and scriptures, the killing of shamen, and the prohibition of the people from believing in Buddhism. In the seventh year of Taiping Zhenjun (446), Emperor Taiwu issued a ban on Buddhism, demanding the complete destruction of Buddhism's influence. This continued for seven or eight years, and it was not until the 11th year of Taiping Zhenjun (451) that the campaign to exterminate Buddhism was relaxed.
The Transformation of Emperor Taiwu and the Revival of Buddhism.
In the second year of Zhengping (452), Emperor Taiwu was killed by the eunuch Zong Ai, who was close to him, and Emperor Wencheng Tuoba ascended the throne. He believed that Shakyamuni had the function of "benefiting the great fortune and benefiting the realm of dust", so less than a year after his accession to the throne, he ordered the revival of Buddhism. The destroyed monasteries, floating charts, and prayer buildings were restored, and Buddhism was revitalized. Under the influence of various factors, Emperor Taiwu's campaign to exterminate Buddhism lasted for seven or eight years and finally came to an end.
Epilogue. The introduction of Buddhism to China was full of twists and turns, and the causes of Emperor Taiwu's campaign to destroy Buddhism involved the conflict between church and state, the rise of Taoism, and the struggle between Buddhism and royal power. Eventually, however, Buddhism took root in China and became part of China's millennial culture. As for the history of Emperor Taiwu's movement to exterminate Buddhism, we should examine it with an objective and rational attitude, in order to better understand and inherit this history.
The Introduction of Buddhism to China and the Taiwu Emperor's Campaign to Exterminate Buddhism: Historical Twists and Turns
This article details the history of the introduction of Buddhism to China, as well as the campaign to exterminate Buddhism that took place during the reign of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. From the article, we can feel the tortuous course of the spread of Buddhism in China, as well as Emperor Taiwu's attitude towards Buddhism and the eventual change.
First of all, the article points out that although the exact time when Buddhism was introduced to China is disputed, from the records of the "Wei Luo Xirong Biography", the introduction of Buddhism into China can be traced back to at least the end of the Western Han Dynasty. The tenth year of Emperor Yongping of the Eastern Han Dynasty is generally considered to be the time when Buddhism was officially introduced to China, and the expedition of Cai Yu and others and the deeds of bringing back Buddhist scriptures and culture laid the foundation for the spread of Buddhism during this period.
Second, the article describes in detail the development of Buddhism in China. From the establishment of the White Horse Temple to the influx of monks from the Western Regions, Buddhism has been courteous to all social classes in China. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism became a popular religion, supported by emperors and nobles, and promoted the vigorous development of the cause of translating scriptures. However, this period of prosperity was met with the extermination of Buddhism during the reign of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, which became a tortuous experience in the history of Buddhism.
For Emperor Taiwu's campaign to exterminate Buddhism, the article provides a detailed historical background and reasons. In the early years of his reign, Emperor Taiwu was influenced by Taoism and developed a negative view of Buddhism. After the outbreak of the Gaiwu Uprising, Emperor Taiwu determined that the Buddhists were related to the rebellion, and ordered the burning of Buddha statues and Buddhist scriptures, the killing of shamen, and the prohibition of Buddhism. This campaign to exterminate Buddhism seriously affected the spread of Buddhism in China, resulting in the destruction of monasteries, the killing of monks, and the burning of Buddhist scriptures, forming a catastrophe in the history of Buddhism.
However, the article also mentions Emperor Taiwu's later transformation. After Emperor Taiwu was killed by Zong Ai, Emperor Wencheng ascended the throne, recognized the positive role of Buddhism in society, and reopened support for Buddhism. During this period, the destroyed monasteries were restored and Buddhism was revived again. This revival of Buddhism also reflects Emperor Taiwu's understanding and reflection on his own mistakes.
In general, while this article delves into the history of the introduction of Buddhism into China, it also vividly presents the movement to exterminate Buddhism during the period of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The twists and turns of this history make people think deeply about the relationship between religion and politics, culture and tradition. Emperor Taiwu's change in attitude towards Buddhism also provides us with a revelation that when facing different cultures and beliefs, we should be open and tolerant to avoid negative impacts on society as a whole due to personal beliefs.
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