Chinese Buddhism

Chinese Buddhism, also called Han Chinese Buddhism or Han Buddhism (traditional Chinese: 漢傳佛教; simplified Chinese: 汉传佛教), is a Sinicized form of Mahayana Buddhism. It draws on the Chinese Buddhist canon (大藏經; Dàzàngjīng; "Great Storage of Scriptures") as well as many Chinese traditions. For all Buddhist branches practiced in China, see Buddhism in China.

Chinese Buddhism is the largest institutionalized religion in mainland China. As of 2020, there were an estimated 42 to 53 million Chinese Buddhists in the People's Republic of China. It is also a major religion in Taiwan and Singapore, as well as among the Chinese diaspora.

Buddhism was first introduced to China during the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Several emperors promoted it, especially during the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), which helped it spread across the country.

A large body of Indian Buddhist scriptures was translated, and original Chinese works were added that reflected Taoist and Confucian interpretations and the influences of the time. These were compiled into a vast text called the Chinese Buddhist open canon, which was foundational in creating what is known as indigenous Chinese Buddhism. By embracing local customs, rites, rituals and folk religion, this form of Buddhism had a far-reaching impact on the spread of Buddhism throughout the East Asian cultural sphere, including North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Chinese Buddhism also developed unique traditions of Buddhist thought and practice, including Tiantai, Huayan, Chan, Pure Land, and Zhenyan Buddhism.

Examples of Chinese Buddhism include Buddhist monks at Jintai Temple in Zhuhai, Guangdong; the Daxiong Baodian of Guangde Nunnery in Ningbo, Zhejiang; and the interior of the Ling Shan Brahma Palace in Wuxi, Jiangsu.

History

Further information: History of Chinese Buddhism

See also: Silk Road transmission of Buddhism and Indianization

Buddhist missionaries began bringing Buddhism to China during the Han dynasty. They traveled along the Silk Road by land and the maritime sea routes. At first, Buddhism was poorly understood and often mixed with Taoism, and Confucian scholars criticized the new religion. Early translators turned Buddhist texts into Chinese, and the Kumārajīva brought important ideas that shaped Chinese Buddhism. Between the 6th and 7th centuries, new Chinese Buddhist traditions appeared, including Chan Buddhism. Buddhism was widely practiced during the Tang dynasty, but the Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution weakened its temples and monasteries. Chan became the most influential school during the Song dynasty. The Yuan dynasty supported Tibetan Buddhism, but the Ming dynasty later removed Tibetan lamas from the court. During the Qing dynasty, Chinese Buddhism suffered during conflicts such as the Taiping Rebellion.

During the Republican period, reformers tried to modernize Buddhism. After the Chinese Communist Revolution, many Buddhists moved to Taiwan. During the Cultural Revolution, Buddhism faced severe repression, and many temples and monasteries were destroyed. After the death of Mao Zedong, a revival began under Deng Xiaoping, and damaged temples were restored. Today, the Buddhist Association of China is the only official government group that supervises Buddhism in the country.

Teaching and practice

Chinese Buddhism is a sinicized form of Mahayana Buddhism. It studies Mahayana sutras and treatises, and it draws its main teachings from the Chinese Buddhist canon and many Chinese traditions. Some important scriptures are the Lotus Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, the Nirvana Sutra, the Amitabha Sutra, and the Surangama Sutra. Chinese Buddhism believes in many Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and other divine beings, and it teaches ideas such as karma and rebirth. Its main schools of thought include Tiantai, Huayan, Sanlun, and Weishi.

Chinese Buddhists take part in many practices, such as ritual, devotion, and chanting. Many temples hold morning and evening services, and people make offerings and perform rites for good health and for the dead. Followers often keep the five precepts, which are ethical rules, and they may practice seated meditation or chant the Buddha's name (nianfo). Many people go on pilgrimages to sacred places such as the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, including Mount Wutai, Mount Emei, Mount Jiuhua, and Mount Putuo. Monks and nuns often follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, and many devout laypeople also eat this way. Chinese Buddhism is also closely linked with other Chinese beliefs, including Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religion. Many people practice qigong or tai chi, honor their ancestors, and worship Guanyin, a bodhisattva of compassion.

Traditions

Traditional Chinese Buddhist scholars, such as Sheng-yen, list thirteen Buddhist traditions or schools (zōng). Some of these schools survived or were revived, while others are now historical or were absorbed into other schools. The traditions have always mixed together, and many temples are influenced by several of them, as well as by local Chinese customs and Taoism. Chinese Buddhist traditions are not exclusivist. They are better seen as trends, emphases, schools of thought, or dharma-gates than as separate sects. One saying describes this harmony: "Tiantai and Huayan for doctrine, Chan and Pure Land for practice." Mario Poceski notes that Chinese Buddhism "lacks clear sectarian divisions." Because of its acceptance of diversity and ecumenism, most Chinese Buddhists would not identify with one specific school, although debates still happen. According to Sheng-yen, the Chan school is the most popular school in China today. Many of these traditions were later carried to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

There is also a modern movement called Humanistic Buddhism, which focuses on helping people and improving social conditions. Some groups that use Buddhist names are not recognized as real Buddhism by the Chinese Buddhist Association or the Chinese government.

Holidays and festivals

Chinese Buddhists celebrate many religious festivals and holidays. These are the most widely attended and popular events in the religion. The dates of these holidays follow the Chinese calendar.

During festivals, people visit temples to take part in rituals, chanting, food, celebrations, and parades. They also make offerings of prayers, incense, fruit, flowers, and money. On these days, some people follow Buddhist moral rules very strictly and eat only vegetarian food all day. Some of the most important holidays are Buddha's Birthday (on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month), Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival (on the first and fifteenth days of the first lunar month), and the Ghost Festival (on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month).