Buddhism has been in China so long that it is almost forgivable for the average Chinese to think that it originated on their turf. Yet no other religion in China is subject to as much contradictory treatment by the governing authority of the day. On one hand, Tibetan Buddhism predictably faces considerable oppression, albeit owing to the political issues rather than religious. Other forms of Buddhism are treated more hospitably, possibly to counteract the rise of other major religions with “foreign” origins in China. This is ironic, considering that Buddhism really originated in India.

How Buddhism came to China

The only religions indigenous to China are Taoism and Confucianism, although the latter may be considered more a philosophy. Buddhism either entered China overland via the Silk Road, much like Islam, or through maritime routes through South China. The latter explains the prevalence of Buddhism in the coastal areas. Since Buddhism has been in China since the late Han Dynasty, it is understandable how many Chinese have begun to think it was their own idea.

Although Buddhism had been in China since around 202 BC, the faith only flourished following the decline of the Han dynasty. Later Chinese rulers of the Sui and Tang Dynasties took Buddhism as their personal faith. The folk legend, Journey to the West, depicts how a monk journeys with disciples in the form of three mythical creatures to carry sutras from India back to Tang China. Foreign rulers, such as those of the Yuan and Manchu Dynasties similarly used the religion to identify with the Chinese and further cement their rule.

Following the reign of the Communists in 1949, Buddhism, together with other “opiates”, was persecuted and driven underground. Hundreds of temples were destroyed and thousands of monks put to death. Yet Buddhism continued to flourish especially with the economic reforms of the 1980s, with old temples restored and new ones built. Since 2006, China has been organizing the World Buddhist Forum, held once every two years. Today, Han Buddhism is freely practiced, possibly to counteract the exponential growth of Christianity in China. Yet Tibetan Buddhism receives the opposite treatment, ostensibly a noble attempt by the central government to free Tibetans from oppression by the Lamas.

Some statistics

Although China does not have a Buddhist majority, it does have the largest Buddhist population in the world, with estimates between 100 to 200 million adherents. Chinese devotees account for more than half the world Buddhist population. Around 33,000 Buddhist temples are scattered across China.

China’s versions of Buddhism

Buddhism in China is practiced more like a folk religion with strong elements of Taoism and Confucianism. Like other homegrown religions, Buddhism is practiced in a family-oriented setting and with no requirement for exclusive adherence.

Buddhists in China largely follow a Chinese version of Mahayana Buddhism, which includes Zen and Pureland Buddhism. Unlike Theravada Buddhism, largely practiced in Southeast Asia, Mahayana Buddhism has no fixed canon of scriptures and unified code of orthodox teaching. The Mahayana is made up of a diverse body of sects with a diverse body of literature and a lack of orthodoxy in teaching, which is why Buddhism is so highly contextualized in China and often combined with other faiths or philosophies like Taoism or Confucianism.

In Tibet, Vajrayana Buddhism is the school largely subscribed to. Sometimes characterized as a form of Mahayana Buddhism, it is similarly subject to the same ambiguity, with strong emphasis on esoteric Tantric influences. Despite official disapproval, there has been a growing trend of Han Chinese sojourning to Tibet to convert to Tibetan Buddhism, a significant number of whom are students.

Temples in China

Buddhist temples in China bear strong elements of Chinese architecture instead of being direct implants of Indian Buddhist temples. Like palaces, they comprise of a courtyard and the temple with a pagoda at the centre. Monks and nuns can be seen walking around in the open space of the courtyard. More often than not, temples are located in scenic areas like mountains or in lush forests.

Things to note when visiting temples

On the whole, temples visited by the average tourist have largely become paid attractions. Hence attitudes towards visitors are relatively relaxed, compared to Buddhist establishments in other countries. In most cases, the only real rules would be to remember to pay for admission and don’t bother to bring your own incense as such places only allow offering of joss sticks bought on their premises. In case you want to show yourself as truly enlightened, keep the following in mind (or simply use common sense):

1.Silence: this is, after all, a place of worship, so save the loud conversations for later. Similarly, silence all mobile devices.
2.Photography: temples housing relics should not be subject to flash photography and some may frown upon photographing statues within the temple. Other than that, photography is generally tolerated, as long as it is not too intrusive to ongoing ritual participants. If in doubt, check with the monks or temple staff.
3.Cover up: not an absolute must in China, as compared to countries where Buddhism is adhered to more devoutly, but showing respect often goes a long way in China. Generally speaking, shoes and hats should be removed in the main worship area. If you see a pile of shoes outside, this is an obvious indication of where to leave them.
4.No touching: for ladies, touching a monk is a no-no, or he would have to subject himself to “cleansing” rituals afterward.

Visiting Tibetan Buddhist Temples

Tibetan Buddhism is more strictly observed, so do note the following additional guidelines:

1.Obtain permission before taking photos
2.No smoking or alcohol on the premises
3.No PDAs
4.Don’t cause anything to be killed on temple grounds
5.No placing of trash in the fire
6.No touching the Buddha statues

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: Buddhist temples in China Buddhism in China