DBQ Essay Test - Spread of Buddhism in China

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Directions: The following question is based on the accompanying Documents 1-8. The documents
have been edited for the purpose of this exercise. Write your answer on the lined pages of the Section II
free-response booklet.
This question is designed to test your ability to work with and understand
historical documents. Write an essay that:
Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence from the documents.
Uses all of the documents.
Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many appropriate ways as possible.
Does not simply summarize the documents individually.
Takes into account the sources of the documents and analyzes the authors points of view.
Explains the need for at least one additional type of document.
You may refer to relevant historical information not mentioned in the documents.

Based on the following documents, analyze the response to the spread of Buddhism in
China. What additional kind of document(s) would you need to evaluate the extent of
Buddhisms appeal in China.

Historical Background: Buddhism, founded in India in the sixth century B. C. E.

was brought to China by the first century C. E., gradually winning converts
following the collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E. Buddhist influence
continued to expand for several centuries. Between 220 C.E. and 520 C. E. China
experienced a period of political instability and disunity. After 570 C. E. the
imperial structure was restored.

DBQ Essay Test - Spread of Buddhism in China

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DBQ Essay Test - Spread of Buddhism in China

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DBQ Essay Test - Spread of Buddhism in China

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START YOUR ESSAY HERE (answer inside the table)

After the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E., Buddhism, originating in India,
became a prominent religion in China, flourishing and becoming a widely
accepted belief. The spread of Buddhism invoked different points of view from
different individuals; positive point of views complimented the wisdom of its
ideologies, while the negative point of views stemmed from the belief that
Buddhism would poison the China. Upon analysis of documents from this time
period, it is evident that the spread of Buddhism fueled controversial
perspectives.
In Documents 2, 3, 5, the benefits and morality of Buddhism are strongly
emphasized. In Document 2, the author, a Chinese scholar, believes that belief in
Buddhism would lead to a blissful afterlife, seen in the quote Whoever in
China...serves the Buddha...will at the end of his life, be transported hither (Doc
2). In addition, in Document 3, an anonymous Chinese scholar has a
conversation with an unnamed individual, answering questions on the beliefs that
make up Buddhism, as seen in the quote The monk practices the way and
substitutes that for worldly pleasures (Doc 3). Finally, Document 5, written by a
Buddhist scholar (Zong Mi), positively compares Buddhism to other ideologies,
seen in the excerpt Confucius, Laozi, and Buddha were the perfect sages...all
three teachings lead to an orderly society (Doc 5). In it is clear that the author
had an admiring point of view when regarding Buddhism, respecting its beliefs to
the point where he compared it with one of the most popular beliefs at the time,
Confucianism.
Despite, the positive points of view on the spread of Buddhism, however, there
were those that believed that this diffusion had an adverse effect on the
population of China. These beliefs are seen most strongly in Documents 4 and 6.
In Document 4, the author, a Confucian scholar of the Tang imperial court,

DBQ Essay Test - Spread of Buddhism in China

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shared his insight on the barbarism of Buddhism, revealed in the excerpt
Now the Buddha was a man of the barbarians who did not speak Chinese...and
did not conform to our laws (Doc 4). It is clear that the author had a highly
negative point of view regarding Buddhism, stemming his beliefs from the
prejudiced idea that the Buddha was not of Chinese descent. The author believes
that due to the fact Buddhism did not originate in China, it has no place in
Chinese ideologies. Furthermore, in Document 6, written by the Tang Emperor
Wu, the speaker states that Buddhism ...Wears out the peoples strengths, pilfers
their wealth...and severs man and wife with its monastic decrees (Document 6).
Without a doubt, it is clearly seen that Emperor Tang opposed Buddhism due to
the supposedly devastating effects it had on the people of China.
In conclusion, it is evident that the spread of Buddhism was met with mixed
feelings, with some individuals praising the foundation of the beliefs while others
opposed it due to its supposed adverse effects. However, a viewpoint that is not
considered is a commoners. All these documents are written by the higher class
in the society and educated individuals, yet none of them include the perspective
of a commoner. Because most of Chinas population is comprised of the lower
class, their opinions will add greater insight on the extent of appeal of Buddhism
on China.

DBQ Essay Test - Spread of Buddhism in China

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