:
Mahayana Buddhism first entered the Chinese Empire (
Han dynasty) through the
Silk Road during the
Kushan Era. The overland and maritime Silk Roads were interlinked and complementary, forming what scholars have called the "great circle of Buddhism". in
Luoyang, one of the earliest
Chinese Buddhist temples at
Dunhuang (
Gansu). Dunhuang was a thriving center of Buddhism between 500 and 1000 CE. ,
Luoyang The establishment of Buddhism in China Buddhist missionaries began bringing Buddhism to
China during the
Han dynasty, and the religion was present in China at the beginning of the
common era. Buddhist missionaries made use of both the overland Central Asian
Silk Road and the
maritime routes. Initially, Buddhism was poorly understood and often confused with and mixed with Taoism. The Chinese saw many similarities between the two religions. There was also much criticism leveled at the new foreign religion by the
Confucian elites. During this early period, the
Dharmaguptaka school was influential in establishing Buddhism in China. This resulted in the widespread adoption of the Dharmaguptaka school's
Vinaya (monastic rule) by all Chinese Buddhist schools. In the 4th-century, northern China fell into political upheaval and division during the
Sixteen Kingdoms period (304–439). Many of these kingdoms were led by
non-Han rulers, who were drawn to Buddhism partially due to its foreign elements. Monks such as
Fotu Cheng (232–348) held high-ranking government positions, and the common people were allowed to freely practice the religion. Buddhism's growing popularity also permeated to the south, where the Chinese
Eastern Jin dynasty (318–420) ruled. The arrival of the
Kuchan scholar
Kumārajīva (334–413) was a key event. Unlike the previous translators, Kumārajīva was supported by the state and given the title of national preceptor. The high-quality translations produced by his disciples had a significant impact on Chinese Buddhism. He is also known for introducing the
Madhyamaka school of Buddhist philosophy, which would later be called
Sanlun (the Three Treatise school). His work also established an Indic foundation for Chinese Buddhist philosophy, which previously had been heavily influenced by Taoist philosophy. By the 460s, Buddhism was a mainstream institution in China, and its
iconography and art were widely recognized. The
Dunhuang and
Yungang cave complexes are great examples of early Chinese Buddhist art from this period. Another important translator was
Paramārtha (, 499–569 CE), who, along with his Chinese disciples, translated numerous works on
Abhidharma,
Yogachara philosophy, and other Mahayana texts. The work of other sixth-century translators such as
Bodhiruci and Ratnamati also contributed to the establishment of a new
Chinese Yogacara school, also known as the Consciousness-Only school ().
The development of a Chinese Buddhism at
Mount Wutai, Shanxi. Originally built in the
Tang dynasty, it is
the oldest surviving timber architecture in China. The 6th and 7th centuries saw a flowering of new and unique Chinese Buddhist traditions, including: • The
Tiantai school, mainly founded by the efforts of master
Zhiyi (538–597 CE) and based on the
Lotus Sutra and the works of Zhiyi. • The
Huayan (
Avatamsaka Sutra) school, based on the works of Chinese masters such as
Dushun (557–640),
Zhiyan (602–668), and
Fazang (643–712). • The
Pure Land tradition, based on the
veneration of
Amitabha and the works of Buddhist monks such as
Tanluan (476–542),
Daochuo (562–645), and
Shandao (613–681). •
Chan Buddhism, based on the teachings of various Chan masters such as
Bodhidharma,
Dazu Huike (487–593),
Sengcan (d. 606),
Dayi Daoxin (580–651), and
Daman Hongren (601–674). During the
Tang dynasty, the monk
Xuanzang (602–664) journeyed to India and back and wrote extensive and detailed reports of his findings, which have subsequently become important for the study of India during this period. Xuanzang also brought back many Buddhist texts and led a group of translators responsible for many influential Chinese translations of classic Buddhist works. His efforts led to the establishment of the idealistic Yogachara (Consciousness-only) tradition in East Asia. The Tang era was a period of significant development for Buddhism in China. During this time, a
sinicized Buddhism was widely accepted and practiced throughout the empire, with many monasteries and temples. The religion was popular with all social classes and was influential on Chinese culture, Buddhist themes can be found in much of the literature of this period, such as in the works of famous poets such as
Wang Wei (701–761) and
Bo Juyi (772–846). Artistic complexes from this period, such as the
Longmen Grottoes, also attest to the artistic expression of Chinese Buddhism during this era. She also depicted herself as a
bodhisattva. The next important event in the history of Chinese Buddhism was the arrival of
Subhakarasimha,
Vajrabodhi, and
Amoghavajra, and their establishment of
Zhenyan Buddhism (or Chinese Esoteric Buddhism) from 716 to 720, during the reign of
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. This Chinese form of
Vajrayana Buddhism now became popular with the elites, and by the time of
Emperor Daizong of Tang (), its influence among the upper classes was significant. The
Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution (841–845) under
Emperor Wuzong of Tang greatly impacted and weakened the Buddhist institutions in China. Perhaps the main reason for this persecution was the Chinese state's need for taxes and wealth. at
Ying County, Shanxi, constructed 1056–1195 during the
Liao dynasty The
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960/979), an era of political upheaval and civil war, negatively impacted the religion. Various Chinese Buddhist traditions contracted or died out during this period. The
Song dynasty (960–1279) saw the flourishing of Chinese Buddhist culture. It was during this time that the
Five Houses of Chan developed. Many classic Chan texts were written during this era, such as the
koan collections of the
Linji school, such as the
Blue Cliff Record (1125) and
The Gateless Gate (1228). Likewise, during this time, the works of
Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091–1157) developed the meditation method of
silent illumination. Both of these traditions of Chan practice were influential (and remain so) on East Asian
Zen Buddhism (including
Japanese Zen,
Korean Seon, and Vietnamese
Thiền). The
Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) patronized
Tibetan Buddhism; thus, during this period, there was a steady growth of this tradition in China. A common perception was that this patronage of
lamas caused corrupt forms of
tantra to become widespread. At this point in its history, Chinese Buddhism had also become quite
syncretic, drawing from all the main Chinese traditions. An example of this is the figure of
Hanshan Deqing, one of the great reformers of Chinese Buddhism. Like many of his contemporaries, he advocated the dual practice of the Chan and Pure Land methods. Chinese Buddhism suffered during the various imperial and internal conflicts of the Qing dynasty, especially the
Taiping Rebellion (December 1850August 1864), which saw many temples destroyed and scriptures burned by rebels. This era also saw the arrival of
Christian missionaries to China, a right which had been granted to the
Western powers after the
Opium Wars. During the
Republican period (1912–1949), there were efforts to reform and modernize Chinese Buddhism in response to the challenges of modernity. Buddhist organizations in the Republic of China period developed congregational features. Buddhist monks were attacked, disrobed, arrested, and sent to camps. Buddhist writings were burned. Buddhist temples, monasteries, and art were systematically destroyed, and Buddhist lay believers ceased any public display of their religion. During the normalization period (
Boluan Fanzheng, 1977 to the early 1980s) led by
Deng Xiaoping, a revival of Chinese Buddhism began to take place. This was a period that saw the restoration of damaged Buddhist temples such as the
Guoqing Temple and
Guanghua Temple, as well as the return of monastic ordination and Buddhist institutions. Monks such as Zhenchan () and Mengcan (), who were trained in the Chan and Huayan traditions, traveled widely throughout China as well as other countries, such as the United States, and lectured on both Chan and Huayan teachings. Monks were now required to obtain certificates from the authorities that permit them to reside in monasteries. The
Buddhist Association of China is the sole official government supervisory organ of Buddhism in the country. It is directed by the
United Front Work Department of the
Chinese Communist Party (CCP). == Teaching and practice ==