Buddhism in the East

Robinson S. · Aug 30, 2003, 17:53

Buddhism is one of the oldest religion and it was formed by Buddha in India. I believe Buddha only preached about love and mercy before Jesus Christ did. I wonder how Buddhism spread up to Japan in the East but not even the neighbouring western countries. Anyone knows the truth behind.

Elizabeth · Aug 31, 2003, 01:02

Actually I believe Buddhism was fairly widespread throughout Central Asia, up to about East Turkmenistan and eastern Iran, before being pushed out by Islam in the 8th-10th Centuries while it wasn't introduced in Japan until 621.

Mandylion · Sep 1, 2003, 08:22

Buddhism had to get through China (and Korea) before it got to Japan. As such it, changed in each new environment it found itself. China tended to do away with the tradition of begging, and moved its monasteries onto a self-sustaining agricultural based footing. Buddhism also reacted to Daoism and Confucianism, before coming into Japan and modifying again to exist alongside Shintoism. It is generally accepted that Buddhism underwent more changes when it got to Japan (I won't go into all the details). A popular question, and one raised by a documentary on Buddhism many years ago, was that if the Buddha of India met the Buddha of Japan, would they recognize each other?

Robinson S. · Sep 3, 2003, 13:51

Thanks Elizabeth, now I remember the demolition of Buddha statues by Talibons in Afghanistan.
Mandylion, it痴 very interesting indeed and I will try to learn more about the Easternised Buddha of Japan.

Hoyu · Sep 23, 2003, 10:04

Check out "The history of Buddhism in Japan" thread here on J-ref for a Buddhist timeline: http://forum.japanreference.com/show...&threadid=1059

Aug 30, 2003, 17:53	#1
Robinson S. Junior Member Join Date: Aug 29, 2003 Location: Chennai (Madras), Indian Posts: 4	Buddhism in the East Buddhism is one of the oldest religion and it was formed by Buddha in India. I believe Buddha only preached about love and mercy before Jesus Christ did. I wonder how Buddhism spread up to Japan in the East but not even the neighbouring western countries. Anyone knows the truth behind. __________________ Robin

Aug 31, 2003, 01:02	#2
Elizabeth Regular Member Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: アメリカ Posts: 8,505	Actually I believe Buddhism was fairly widespread throughout Central Asia, up to about East Turkmenistan and eastern Iran, before being pushed out by Islam in the 8th-10th Centuries while it wasn't introduced in Japan until 621. __________________ たとえ辛くても、永遠に続く苦しみなどないでしょう。

Sep 1, 2003, 08:22	#3
Mandylion Omnipotence personified Join Date: Mar 15, 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,121	Buddhism had to get through China (and Korea) before it got to Japan. As such it, changed in each new environment it found itself. China tended to do away with the tradition of begging, and moved its monasteries onto a self-sustaining agricultural based footing. Buddhism also reacted to Daoism and Confucianism, before coming into Japan and modifying again to exist alongside Shintoism. It is generally accepted that Buddhism underwent more changes when it got to Japan (I won't go into all the details). A popular question, and one raised by a documentary on Buddhism many years ago, was that if the Buddha of India met the Buddha of Japan, would they recognize each other? __________________ "It's a dn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." - Andrew Jackson**

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Sep 3, 2003, 13:51	#4
Robinson S. Junior Member Join Date: Aug 29, 2003 Location: Chennai (Madras), Indian Posts: 4	Thanks Elizabeth, now I remember the demolition of Buddha statues by Talibons in Afghanistan. Mandylion, it痴 very interesting indeed and I will try to learn more about the Easternised Buddha of Japan.

Sep 23, 2003, 10:04	#5
Hoyu Regular Member Join Date: Nov 3, 2002 Posts: 241	Check out "The history of Buddhism in Japan" thread here on J-ref for a Buddhist timeline: http://forum.japanreference.com/show...&threadid=1059