Introduction of Buddhism to China A Change of Culture

Wenlu Zheng Junior Division Individual Website

As a student of Chinese descent, I decided to choose a topic that would not only relate to this years theme, but also have a connection with myself. I related back to my early childhood and came up with my topic, the Introduction of Buddhism and how it influenced Chinese culture. During the times when I was in Fujian Province, China, most of my families practiced Buddhism. They would bring me to temples to learn about Buddhism. However, it is not until I was older, I began to realize how tremendously Buddhism had its impact on China. The first thing I did to start my research was gain knowledge, therefore I got books from the local library. There werent many books in my local library that supported my topic very well, therefore I got books through inter-library loan. Then I found good videos and websites that are useful to my research. I began to notice that Buddhism played an important role on Chinese literature. One of my favorite Chinese novels, Journey to the West by Wu Cheng En, is written based off the ideas of Buddhism. A famous boxing style of self-defense called Shao-lin is founded by a Buddhist abbot. I was able to conduct interviews with Professor Chun-fang Yu and Buddhist nun Master Ming Yi. I was also able to go on Chinese websites, which was an advantage for me. Lastly, many images supported my topic. I chose to do a website because I thought that it would be the most beneficial to me since it is reachable to videos, images, audiotapes, and much more. First, I developed my thesis that I was trying to prove. Then I filled the website with the information that I had gathered. When my word count was almost about to go over, I added quotes from professors, politicians, and Buddhists from China. I incorporated good videos from CCTV, the Chinese network television. Images and music were the last to go. I polished my website by making sure there was no grammatical errors. The introduction of Buddhism during the first century in China created a whole new system of ideas, beliefs, and values. It started out as a religion in a small area but later settled deeply into Chinese culture. Its influenced have extended to many aspects in China including literature, arts and architecture, medicine, etc. For thousands of years Buddhism existed in China, which allowed Buddhism to blend in with Chinese culture. . It gave Buddhists a way to solve problems through peace, and overcome suffering by meditation. Signs and images are first introduced into China. Today, Buddhism is seen as one of the major religions in China. More importantly, it has become a part of many Chinese people's daily lives. Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries are all over China. From literature to art, public works to festivals, Buddhism left lasting impressions. The introduction of Buddhism to China indeed changed the Chinese in several ways.

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