| NSITION | | | | Under the Silla dynasty, the Buddhism of Tang China |
| In summary, the Buddhist history as told above can | | | | entered Korea. There the Yogacara school spread |
| be roughly divided into periods of five hundred years. | | | | among scholars. But it was the Chan Buddhism that |
| In the first five hundred years, the original Theravada | | | | gained popularity. The Silla dynasty was replaced by |
| tradition was strong, and the further development of | | | | the Koryo dynasty in B.E. 1478 (935 C.E.). The rulers |
| Buddhism in Theravada countries is the product of | | | | of the new dynasty were deeply devoted to |
| this period. The second period saw the prosperity of | | | | Buddhism, and under them Korean Buddhism attained |
| Mahayana, the rise of its major schools of | | | | the height of its prosperity in the sixteenth Buddhist |
| Madhyamika and Yogacara, and their spread to | | | | century. Then Chan Buddhism became most popular |
| Central Asia and China where Mahayana flourished | | | | in Korea as in China. The other sects were in the |
| and spread further to other northeastern countries. | | | | course of time gradually blended into it. And it is this |
| During the third period, the Mahayana degenerated | | | | Chan school that remains to this day as Korean |
| into an unhealthy form of Tantra and lost ground in | | | | Buddhism. |
| most parts of India until Buddhism was brought to an | | | | When Buddhism was destroyed in India in B.E. 1742 |
| end in its homeland by the Turkish invaders in a short | | | | (1199 C.E.), Chinese Buddhism was left alone and |
| time following this period. | | | | companionless in the continuation of a living tradition. |
| However, during the same period as the degenerate | | | | Moreover, within a short time after that, in B.E. 1823 |
| form of Tantra became influential in India, there | | | | (1280 C.E.), Kublai Khan established Mongol rule both in |
| developed in China another school of Mahayana called | | | | China and in Korea. As the Mongolian rulers favoured |
| Chan which later spread to Korea and Japan. In Japan | | | | Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism became influential in both |
| it became known as Zen which remains today a main | | | | countries and was a factor in the weakening of |
| sect of Japanese Buddhism and plays an important | | | | Buddhism there. When the local dynasties established |
| role in modern international Buddhism. | | | | themselves in Korea in B.E. 1907 (1364 C.E.) and in |
| Thus, while Buddhism had disappeared from India | | | | China in B.E. 1911 (1368 C.E.), they turned to |
| early in the eighteenth Buddhist century, elsewhere it | | | | Confucianism for their nationalistic principles and |
| grew in influence, in southern countries as Theravada | | | | adopted the policy of suppressing Buddhism. |
| and in northern countries as Mahayana. Much has | | | | Buddhism, regarded as the barbarian faith, was |
| been told of the history of the Theravada, but some | | | | forbidden to officials and declared undesirable for the |
| more account is needed to form a continuous history | | | | common people. Then it declined and decayed both in |
| of the Mahayana. | | | | China and in Korea. |
| THE EMERGENCE OF CHINESE AND KOREAN | | | | In Korea, Buddhist monasteries and temples were |
| BUDDHISM | | | | banished from the cities and the monks were forced |
| As stated earlier, Buddhism came to China around BE. | | | | to dwell in mountain and forest retreats. About five |
| 600 (57 C.E.). Three hundred years later, when | | | | centuries later, Buddhism began to gain some |
| Buddhism had been firmly established in China, | | | | strength again when Korea came under Japanese |
| Chinese monks and missionaries carried the message | | | | influence and then oc-cupation during the period of |
| into Korea. In those days Korea was divided into | | | | nearly 60 years from B.E. 2428 to 2486 (1885 - 1943 |
| three kingdoms: Silla, Paekche and Koguryu, Buddhism | | | | C.E.). To spread their doctrine and activities to Korea, |
| was first introduced into Koguryu in BE. 915 (372 | | | | the Japanese Buddhist sects built temples and |
| C.E.), then to Paekche, and lastly to Silla thirty years | | | | conducted social and educational programmes there. |
| later. In B.E. 1211 (668 C.E.) Silla gained control over | | | | Though their efforts did not meet with much |
| the other two kingdoms and ruled the whole Korean | | | | success, they had some effects on the Korean |
| peninsula until B.E. 1478 (935 C.E.). | | | | Buddhists. The Korean Buddhist institutions began to |
| In China the period of unity under the Sui and Tang | | | | feel the need of a revival. They, therefore, united in |
| dynasties (B.E. 1132-1449/589-906 C.E.) saw the rise | | | | the task of reforming their community, especially in |
| and development of most of the Chinese Buddhist | | | | education and administration. |
| sects: Tien-Tai (known in Japan as Tendai), San-Lun | | | | The major Buddhist sect of modern China is Chan. |
| (Madhyamika), Yui-Shih (Yogacara | | | | The other sects which also survive are Tien-Tai and |
| Vijnanฺavada as spread by Hsuan-Tsang), | | | | Pure Land. But, as the doctrines of these sects have |
| Hua-Yen (Avatamsaka, known in Japan as Kegon), | | | | blended together in the Chinese belief and practice, |
| Chan (Dhyana, known in Japan as Zen), Ching-tu | | | | no clear distinction can be made between them. |
| (Pure Land or Sukhavativyuha), Nan-shan (Vinaya | | | | Followers of Chan and Tien-Tai also call upon the |
| sect) and King-kang-chi (Tantra). Many of these sects | | | | name of Amitabha and believe in the Pure Land. The |
| spread further to Korea, especially the Hua-Yen, | | | | calling-Nan-wu Amito-fo (Namo Amitabhaya |
| Tien-Tai, Pure Land, Chan and Yogacara sects. In | | | | Buddhaya, Homage to Amitabha Buddha) - is a |
| Tang China the Chan school spread widely and | | | | common practice in every temple and every home |
| became very influential. | | | | of the Chinese Buddhists today. |