Buddhism+in+China

=Ancient China Buddhism= Since the ancient times, China has seen the rise of many diverse cultures and religions that have given a unique character to the social fabric of the country. Buddhism originated in India and then spread to China. The ancient Chinese Buddhism had some unique features that distinguished it from the other religions of ancient China.


 * Ancient Chinese Buddhism**

By the time Buddhism arrived in China, few centuries had already elapsed since the death of the Buddha. The principles of Buddhism were similar to those of Taoism, which along with Confucianism were the two of the largest religions in ancient China.

The ancient Chinese Buddhism preached ancestor worship along with individual salvation that was considered as beneficial to the family and the society as a whole. It is believed that Buddhism spread due to the major political upheaval that resulted soon after the collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 AD. It was during the reign of the Southern and Northern dynasties that Buddhism received formal support from the rulers for the first time. Due to the state support, Buddhism flourished greatly during the reign of rulers like Emperor Wu.

It was during the reign of the Sui and Tang dynasties that Buddhism received unprecedented support and mass following