The mysterious dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty actually attracted the eastward spread of Buddhism! How did Buddhism come about?
Buddhism is a religion originating from ancient India, advocating the teachings of the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, dependent origination, reincarnation, and nirvana, with Shakyamuni as the founder, compassion as the foundation, and wisdom as the law. Buddhism was born in the Indus Valley around the 6th century B.C., and after hundreds of years of spread and development, it gradually formed three major language families, southern, northern and Tibetan, and influenced many countries and regions in Asia. So, how did Buddhism come to China? Among them, there is a dream of the emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which plays a vital role. He is Liu Xiu's son, Liu Heng, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty.
Liu Xiu, is the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, but also a famous general in the late Western Han Dynasty, he led the peasant uprising in the last years of Xinmang, overthrew Wang Mang's **, restored the rule of the Han family, known as Guangwu Zhongxing in history. Liu Xiu had several sons, the most outstanding of which was his ninth son, Liu Heng. Liu Heng, the son of Liu Xiu and Yin Lihua, he was smart and clever since he was a child, with extraordinary temperament and talent, he inherited Liu Xiu's throne in 57 AD and became the second emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, that is, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, a series of reforms and opening up policies were implemented, which made great progress in the economy, culture, and military aspects of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which is known as the rule of the early Ming Dynasty. Emperor Ming of Han was not only a wise monarch, but also a man of broad vision and knowledge, who was intriguing and exploratory, and inwardly inclusive and respectful of ideas and beliefs. It was under his rule that Buddhism was able to spread to China and take root in the country.
The dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was the opportunity for Buddhism to be introduced to China. This dream happened one night in 64 A.D. On that day, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty had a peculiar dream, in which he dreamed of a golden man, about ten zhang tall and with a white gas on his head, falling from the sky and standing in front of him. Emperor Ming of Han asked in surprise, "Who are you?" The golden man said, "I am a Buddha, I am from the West, and I have a method that can help people to transcend the sea of suffering and attain eternal happiness." When Emperor Ming of Han heard this, he was very moved in his heart and asked, "What is your method?" How can I get it? The golden man said, "My Dharma is the Dharma, and if you want to get it, you have to send someone to the West to seek it, where there are my scriptures and images." If you can get it, you will become the emperor of Buddhism and receive immeasurable blessings. With that, the golden man vanished. When Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty woke up, he was very surprised in his heart, so he told the ministers around him about the dream and asked them what this dream meant.
The ministers of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, some said that this was a good omen, some said that it was a bad omen, some said that it was a riddle, and some said that it was nonsense. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was unwilling, so he ordered to send an envoy to the west to find the Dharma that the golden man said. This was the first time in Chinese history that an envoy was sent to the Western Regions to seek Buddhism, and it was also the beginning of the introduction of Buddhism to China.
The envoy sent by Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was a minister named Yin Qiu, who took some retinues and set out along the Silk Road to the west. They made a long and difficult journey, passing through dozens of countries and regions, and finally reached India, the birthplace of Buddhism. There, they came into contact with Buddhist monks and followers, learned Buddhist teachings and rituals, and collected Buddhist scriptures and images. They also invited two Indian monks, Mahazhu and Zhu Faran, to return to China with them to explain Buddhism to Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty. In 67 AD, Yin Qiu and others returned to China and presented their harvest to Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was so happy that he established a monastery in Luoyang, called the White Horse Temple, which enshrined Buddhist scriptures and statues, and placed two eminent monks to teach the Dharma there. This was the first Buddhist monastery in Chinese history and the first stronghold of Buddhism in China.
The spread and development of Buddhism in China was a long and complex process. Since the dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, Buddhism has experienced many dynasties such as the Han, Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, encountering various difficulties and challenges, and also making various achievements and contributions. The spread of Buddhism in China is not only the spread of a religion, but also the spread of a culture. Buddhism and Chinese culture have both conflicts and contradictions, as well as integration and innovation. The influence of Buddhism on Chinese culture is multifaceted, including architecture, art, thought, and institutions.
For example, the architectural style of Buddhism has influenced the form and decoration of Chinese temples, pagodas, caves, and other buildings; The art form of Buddhism has influenced the content and techniques of Chinese sculpture, painting, dance and other arts; The ideas of Buddhism have influenced the views and methods of Chinese philosophy, literature, morality, psychology and other disciplines. The institutional norms of Buddhism have influenced China's political, legal, social, and educational systems and rules. It can be said that the spread of Buddhism in China is a kind of cultural exchange and interaction, a kind of cultural change and innovation, and a kind of cultural enrichment and development.
The dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was the opportunity for Buddhism to be introduced to China, and it was also the beginning of the influence of Buddhism on Chinese culture. Whether the dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty is really a harbinger of Buddhism, we have no way to verify, and we do not need to be more true. But what we can be sure of is that Emperor Ming of Han's dreams embody his spirit of openness and tolerance, his curiosity and exploration mentality, and his wisdom and vision. The dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty not only changed his own beliefs and destiny, but also changed the culture and history of China. The dream of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty is worthy of our admiration and learning.