Buddhism spread into China from India via foreign traders in the 1st century AD.
By the 4th century, Buddhism has spread widely and became the religion of the majority.
Under the Sui dynasty the emperors saw the unifying force of Buddhism and supported the religion.
The Sui was succeeded by the Tang [618- 907 AD] which emperors tried to stem the influence of Buddhism as they favoured Taoism.
This book by Professor Stanley Weinstein, a Professor of Buddhist Studies, Yale University is a tour de force.
Although published in 1987 it was reprinted in 2009 as it is still the best book on the relationship between Buddhism and the Tang dynasty emperors.
Weinstein narrates how each Emperor deals with the demands of his mainly Buddhist subjects without giving up their official policy that primacy is accorded to Taoism followed by Confucianism and Buddhism.
Lwh @ Serengeti Lodge,
Serengeti Nature Reserve, Tanzania.
10 Aug 2024 Saturday.