The earliest time when Buddhism was introduced into China was recorded at the end of the Western Han Dynasty: "In the first year of Yuanshou (in the second year of BC), Dr. Lu Jing was dictated by the ambassador of Dayue Family. Another theory that Buddhism began to spread was the reign of Emperor Han Ming in the East: in the tenth year of Yongping in Ming Di, Cai Cheng sent an envoy to the western regions to visit Buddhism and returned to China, inviting Kayamoton and Zhu Falan from Da Yue to come to China and carry back the Buddha statues and scriptures with white horses. Later, Ming Di built the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, an early Buddhist temple in China, which was used to worship Buddha statues and Buddhism. According to the above two statements, the beginning of Buddhism should be between the Han Dynasty, about the first century A.D..
After Buddhism was introduced into China, it was believed by some royal and aristocratic children. At that time, the emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty believed in the learning of Huang Lao and the skill of immortals, and Buddhist teachings were also regarded as "quietism". Therefore, like the study of Huang Lao, it often sacrifices Buddha statues with statues of Laozi and immortals to pray for more happiness and longevity. Buddhism in this period has not been popularized among the people, and only in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties did Buddhism develop greatly.
Development of Buddhism in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism was further developed. During the Jin Dynasty, Tathagata Tucheng, Kumarajiva and other Buddhist monks from the western regions came to the Central Plains to give lectures and translate scriptures, praising Buddhism and winning the admiration of monarchs from all corners of the country. There are many outstanding monks in China, such as Daoan, Hui Yuan and Faxian. Daoan organized the translation and establishment of Buddhist groups, and Hui Yuan established Buddhist laws and ceremonies. Both of them have cultivated many noble children, spread Buddhism to the north and south of the river, and spread it widely. As for Fa Xian, I felt that China's Buddhist scriptures were incomplete and the precepts were not prepared at the end, so I went through hardships and went west to Tianzhu to seek the Dharma, bringing back a large number of Buddhist scriptures, which enriched the contents of Buddhism in China.
During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism flourished further. At that time, most monarchs believed in Buddhism. For example, Liang Wudi made three sacrifices to Tongtai Temple in the Southern Dynasties. Most of the monarchs in the Northern Dynasties also believed in Buddhism, digging Yungang Grottoes, Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and Luoyang Longmen Grottoes, and carving a large number of Buddha statues. In this period, Southern Buddhism tended to be righteous and rational, and metaphysical thinking was high. Worship is still practiced in the north, emphasizing Buddha worship.
It is difficult to determine the exact time and age when Christianity was introduced into China.
When it was first introduced, a few people practiced it, but it was not necessarily noticed by the upper government and historians.
In 2 BC, the special envoy of Yi Village, the king of the State of Yue, established after a powerful minority in Gansu moved westward to Central Asia, went to Chang 'an, the capital of China at that time, which is now Xi 'an. He dictated Buddhist scriptures to a doctoral student named Lu Jing. This is the earliest record of Buddhism's introduction into China in China's history books.
Due to the traffic in the western regions opened by Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty 120 years ago, Buddhism spread from India to Central Asia at that time probably gradually moved eastward through travel.
There is another legend: During the reign of Qin Shihuang in 246-2 BC10 BC and the reign of Ashoka in India in about 272-226 BC, ten miles of Indian shamans and other people came to Xianyang, China. The third parliamentary meeting was held in 250 BC, when Ashoka was king. After the meeting, Dade was sent to various countries to preach, and he is likely to come to China.
In addition, some people think that the "admiring the door" in Song Yu's Gao Tang Mi and Historical Records belongs to Shamanism, but because there is no translation theory handed down from generation to generation, it is impossible to verify it.
Due to numerous legends, it is difficult to determine when Buddhism was first introduced into China. Why is it generally believed that it began with Emperor Han Ming's seeking for the law?
According to historical records, in 64 AD, Emperor Yongping of Han sent 12 envoys to the Western Regions to seek Buddhism. In 67 AD, they returned to Luoyang with two Indian monks, Kayamoten and Zhufalan, brought back scriptures and Buddha statues, and began to translate some Buddhist scriptures. According to legend, the existing Forty-two Chapters Classic is an important translation of Agama.
At the same time, the first Buddhist temple in China was built in the capital, which is the White Horse Temple that still exists today. This temple is also said to be named after the white horse carrying Buddhist scriptures at that time.
According to this legend, although the introduction of Buddhism into China did not begin with Emperor Han Ming, Buddhism, as a religion, gained official recognition and belief, and its foundation and scale were initially established in China, which can be said to have started in the era of Emperor Han Ming.