Buddhism Mini Encyclopedia -- History

Author: Ye Luhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Exploring the footsteps of Sakyamuni's enlightenment and preaching, tracing the rise and fall of Buddhism in China. Chinese Buddhism possesses rich historical and cultural connotations. This is something that no other Buddhist country in the world today can compare with. From the perspective of the development and spread of Buddhism, its transmission from India to other parts of the world mainly follows two routes: the Southern Transmission and the Northern Transmission. The Southern Transmission is primarily based on Pali scriptures, while the Northern Transmission is mainly based on Sanskrit scriptures. The Northern Transmission can further be divided into two major branches: the Sinitic branch and the Tibetan branch. Chinese Buddhism encompasses all three systems of Han, Tibetan, and Pali scriptures from both the Southern and Northern Transmissions. Buddhism has developed in China for over two thousand years, exerting a profound influence on all aspects of Chinese society, including politics, economy, thought, culture, and folk customs. Buddhist thought and culture have become an integral part of China's traditional intellectual heritage, and Buddhist art is a treasure in the artistic treasury of the Chinese nation. In contemporary times, China is entering a new historical period of development. Alongside economic and political progress, cultural development is also a mission bestowed upon us by the times. Cultural development includes inheriting and promoting the excellent cultural heritage of the nation's history, naturally including the outstanding heritage of Chinese Buddhist culture. We have the responsibility and obligation to organize and study this cultural legacy left by our ancestors, enabling it to play a new role under today's social conditions.