Hinduism spread to Cambodia many through sea routed to Khmer around the first century. The temple was later converted into a Buddhist temple from influences from merchants and missionaries from India; these merchants and missionaries later spread Buddhism to much of southeast and east Asia. These two documents further prove the dynamics of religious exchanges in the Indian Ocean Basin. By examining these four documents one can easily see the diverse exchanges throughout the Indian Ocean Basin by the spread of trade and religion. One can easily compare these exchanges to that of the Silk Road in the post classical era of history.
In India during the classical era, Indo-European Aryans introduced Hinduism to the natives which started social disparity and patriarchy. In response to this, Siddhartha Gautama founded a new religion that was more egalitarian called Buddhism that spread to Central Asia, China, and Southeast Asia. Monks and merchants used the Indian Ocean trade network that connected China, India and many other countries for the first time to spread Buddhism. However, while it was spreading Buddhism branched into two Mahayana Buddhism in East Asia and Theravada Buddhism in Southeast Asia. In China Mahayana Buddhism was greatly excepted by people who didn’t have a lot of stuff or people who wanted to reach nirvana but was greatly hated by others no only because it went against everything Confucianism believed in but also since it wasn 't a native religion.
The major religions of Christianity and Buddhism were dramatically changed with the development of the Silk Road during the time period of 200 CE and 1500 CE. Both of these religions became more acquisitive, as they started to adapt some ideas that traveled along the Silk Road. Christianity started to adapt and incorporate some of those ideas. Christians became to assimilate the thoughts of the Romans and the philosophy the Greeks and use those concepts into their own religion as them traveled
The challenges Buddhism faced as it arrived in China were mainly linguistic challenges, different philosophical context, diverse conceptions of the ideal perfect being, and the core differences in social values. In order to overcome these challenges, there were translations made, and efforts put into searching for links between Buddhist and Chinese beliefs at that time. Moreover, there were cultural differences between the North and the South, which lead to a different process of Buddhism’s arrival within China. The first challenge Buddhism faced was the language barrier. Buddhism was based on Sanskrit, so it was necessary to translate the teachings and dialogues from Sanskrit to Chinese.
Buddhism had an impact in both empires. However, Confucianism was the official ideology upon the entire Han Dynasty. Their values focused on a system of philosophical and “ethical-sociopolitical teachings”. Han China accented political control around the education of bureaucrats to make more logical decisions. Maurya India, on the other hand, was essentially a Hindu state.
Religion in Classical China Since human’s earliest years, we have relied on religion to guide us in countless situations; it influences almost everything we do. During the Classical Period in China, religion played large roles in many significant decisions. The three most prominently displayed religions at the time were Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Though their unique teachings separated them from each other, each had equal impacts in the shaping of early Chinese civilization and culture.
The Confucian Project is the implementation of Confucianism and the Confucian social structure into the societies of east Asia where Confucianism existed, particularly in China. Just as the yogas outlined the way for Hindus to reach nirvana and the eight-fold path was the way to nirvana for Buddhists, the Confucian Project was the way to followers of Confucianism to become a chun-tzu and to create the ideal Confucian society. The Confucian Project is unique in comparison the yogas or eight-fold path because it took place in the center of society and human interaction and relationships rather than in isolation and solitude. The Five Constant Relationships are particularly important in the Confucian Project as is the development of the hsin,
It is very common for one to acknowledge the differences between different religions, races, or social classes. One may compare Hinduism and Buddhism, or the different social classes of ancient Rome. It is almost unlikely that, unless learning about these cultures, one will compare,or even contrast, a religion, like Hinduism, to a city and empire, such as, ancient Rome. Within their many differences, there are plenty of similarities found in Hindu and ancient Roman cultures, including dutifulness, polytheistic and sacrificial religious practices, and social or religious classes. Dutifulness, or being motivated by a sense of duty, is one virtue associated with both Hindu and Roman cultures.
There are many different factors for an individual to be labeled as an outcast or vasala. Although there are many different opinions on who outcasts are, according to Buddhism, this discrimination is due to the way they act, talk, and how they are brought up, not because of the individual’s relationship, worth, or who they are. These factors that categorizes one as a vasala are summarized in the Vasala sutta. The vasala sutta was delivered by the Buddha when he was staying at the monastery of Anathapindika in Jetta’s Grove. While going for alms-round, a Brahmin saw the Buddha coming to his house and shouted angrily, calling the Buddha a “vasala” or outcast.
Ashoka ruled India from 268 BCE until he died in 232 BCE. Ashoka had edicts written on pillars, boulders, and walls. Ashoka became a Buddhist and worked on spreading the beliefs and faith throughout his reign. Ashoka is considered to be either a ruthless warrior or an enlightened ruler. Ashoka was enlightened because he respected all faiths and he cared about all life.
Buddhists believe that this is accomplished through the direct understanding of dependent origination and the Four Noble Truths. Two major branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars-Theravada and Mahayana. Vajrayana, a body of teachings attributed to Indian teachers, may be viewed as a third branch or merely a part of Mahayana. Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast
They borrowed many goods such as gunpowder and wheelbarrow from China. However, Chinese and Muslim societies advanced farther. (Strayer, 490). The European advancements originated from Chinese accomplishments, but they slowly adopted advanced technologies. However, China advanced highly in cannons, ship, navigation and compass.
Trade with many countries caused the empire to spread their belief of Buddhism to expand. The goods that were trade were precious stone, spices, horses, copper, sugar cane, indigo, wheat, drugs, pearls, fruits, cotton, Ivory, Linen, and clothing. There are different routes for different places. The routes that were taken were called the Indus River, Ganges River, and Silk road mostly used for northern India. The impact that
There are many similarities and differences between the diffusion of many of the major religions that are still prominent in today’s society. Two of the many monotheistic religions that are currently popular are Buddhism and Christianity. Both of these religions spread from where they began. Christianity and Buddhism both expanded with the help of political leaders, but had different followers and expanded to different regions.
The Asuka period brought the gradual growth of artistic and religious influences on Japanese culture from China. This influence grew even more during the Nura period as the Japanese began to model itself after the Chinese form and Buddhism spread through Japan. One example is the Triad, which was kept in the Yakushiji temple. The Chinese influence was apparent in its anatomical definition, realistic drapery, and naturalism. The Chinese influence in Buddhism thought and art was founded by Kukai, who traveled to China and studied Chinese Buddhism, also studied their calligraphy and poetry.