Buddhism' s Success in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Buddhism s Success in China - Essay ExampleTo support this answer, this report will compare and contrast Buddhism to Confucianism/Legalism and Daoism.Buddhism was originated in northern India, near the Himalayan Mountains, by Prince Gautama, during the sixth century B.C. Stearns summarized that the frame advocated by the prince taught that enlightenment - and therefore merriment and peace in life - was achievable only through abstinence from things that promoted misery, such as sensations, perceptions, thinking, reasoning and desire for things which men find agreeable - anything that appealed to the send of men (75-77). Because of this abstinence and its reflection on Buddhist priests and adherents, Buddhism at its early stages could be seen as emblematic of the simplicity of the Four Truths, and how each and every individual, from the down in the mouth workers to the exalted royals, could hold to its precepts.According to Stearns, the Divine Sage Confucius (Kong Fuzi) proposed a system of harmony and keeping to the Way as a social and political ethos derived from idealized values of the aside (36). As a system it was rooted in morality and ethics, providing reason and regulations, down to the smallest measure of a gentlemans conduct in a very systematic, mensurable and precise way. Comparing Confucianism to Buddhism puts two things into perspective one, Confucianism focused on conduct and propriety, a worldlier set of functions, whereas Buddhism focused on abstaining from worldly matters in general. Two, Confucianism was seen as something of an appointment, an flower to and reward of power above the rest, and therefore not suited to the common people. This level of classism was not apparent in Buddhism. LegalismThe primary advocate of Legalism was Han Feizi, who advanced Confucianism into a more pragmatic viewpoint. As Stearns stated, this harsh but effective solution for resolving the chaotic conditions that plagued the Zhou dynasty included the introd uction of new managerial techniques, amend bureaucracy, enhanced communication, land reforms and standardization of weights, measures and coinage (43). Legalism was a law-driven approach to government, and as such dealt mostly with an ancient notion of cause and effect and consequently dealings effectively with the criteria that drove and defined such polarities. Again, in the contrast of Legalism with Buddhism, we draw the conclusion that Legalism was a more restrictive approach to government, focusing on absolute and compelling the masses rather than catering to the individuals needs. Legalism can be equated to a top-down method, whereas Buddhism could be seen as a bottom-up method individual gaiety begets collective contentment, as opposed to informed manipulation by a few to drive the collective towards restrictive unity. Legalism was more a political system rather than a religious one. DaoismLike Confucianism, Daoism proposed adherence to a Way, holding a similarity to Confu cianism in this. Proposed by