MAHAYANA BUDDHISM IN CHINA AND KOREA

3RD CENTURY C.E.

Mahayana Buddhism took a major foothold of China while local beliefs were relegated to l at
lesser stature.

4TH CENTURY C.E

Korea was the text territory to be influenced by Mahayana school.

Ironically, while Buddhism was being propagated and gaining support in other countries even to
the remotest places, it was steadily dying in India where it all started.

255 C.E
The Lotus Sutra (kung pwede i drawing) contains the most definitive teachings of the Buddha.
Pervading most schools of Buddhism in China and Korea by way of the northern transmission,
reciting the texts of the Lotus Sutra is considered propitious. A Chinese version was translated
from the original Sanskrit (LOTUS SUTRA) in 255 C.E. making it the earliest record of such
existence in history.

For Mahayana Buddhists, Buddhas are not individuals who actually lived in this world. In some
ways, they are simply expressions of the one Buddha reality, such as that of Siddhartha
Gautama. These great Buddhas are to be found in various heavens enshrined together with
other gods and saints. In China, Amitabha is a very popular Buddha.

The Pure Land Sect (paki ano kung ano ito)

Pure Land Buddhism began to spread to China by the second century C.E.

The Intuitive Sects

The establishment of intuitive sects of work of an Indian monk named Bodhidharma whose life
stories are shrouded with mysteries and numerous legends. This concept entered China from
India, and then carried onward to Korea. In China, it came to be known as Ch'an.

Ch'an Buddhism has a close affinity with Taoist philosophy because both are kinds of
mysticism.

The Rationalist Sect

A rationalist Buddhist school of thought called Tien-t'ai emerged around the sixth century C.E.
with its name originating from a mountain in south- eastern China where its founder Chih-I
or Zhiyi lived. Apart from meditational practices, this sect taught that one must utilize reason
and study the scriptures and doctrines to discover Buddhist truths. Chih-I emphasized that acts
of studying and contemplation were both vital for spiritual enlightenment.
11TH CENTURY C.E
During the eleventh century, the Buddhist monk Uicheon established the Cheontae Buddhist
school in Korea. (parang inspired sa school sa taas)