Asian Art

Chinese Buddhism

Chinese Buddhism, alternatively 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, which draws on the Chinese Buddhist canon (大藏經; Dàzàngjīng; "Great Storage of Scriptures") as well as numerous Chinese traditions. It is the largest institutionalized religion in mainland China. As of 2020, there are 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). It was promoted by multiple emperors, especially during the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), which helped it spread across the country. The translation of a large body of Indian Buddhist scriptures with the inclusion of originally composed Chinese works based on Taoist and Confucian interpretations and influence of the time was compiled in a vast text referred to as Chinese Buddhist open canon and was foundational in creating, what is known as indigenous Chinese Buddhism. This form of Buddhism due to embracing local customs, rites, rituals and folk religion had a far-reaching impact for the dissemination of Buddhism throughout the countries of the East Asian cultural sphere, such as North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Chinese Buddhism also developed various unique traditions of Buddhist thought and practice, including Tiantai, Huayan, Chan, Pure Land, and Zhenyan Buddhism.

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See also

• ▸China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong
• ▸Fresh water
• ▸Chinese Buddhist canon

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Text from Wikipedia; plate via Wikimedia Commons. Text CC BY-SA 4.0; plate freely licensed (see Commons). Source record. Images and catalogue data are reproduced from open-access collections.