Buddhism in China

From Foreign Import to State Religion

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Buddhism or 汉传 (fójiào) was first brought to China from India by missionaries and traders along the Silk Road that connected China with Europe in the late Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD).

By then, Indian Buddhism was already over 500 years old, but the faith didn't begin to flourish in China until the decline of the Han Dynasty and an end to its strict Confucian beliefs.

Buddhist Beliefs

Within the Buddhist philosophy grew two main divisions.


The Buddhism that took hold in China was Mahayana Buddhism, which includes various forms such as Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism - also known as Lamaism.

Mahayana Buddhists believe in the broader appeal to Buddha's teachings compared to the more abstract philosophical questions posed in Theravada Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhists also accept contemporary buddhas like Amitabha, which Theravada Buddhists don't.

Buddhism was able to directly address the concept of human suffering. This had wide appeal for the Chinese, who were dealing with the chaos and disunity of warring states vying for control after the fall of the Han. Many ethnic minorities in China also adopted Buddhism.


Competition with Daoism

When first introduced, Buddhism faced competition from followers of Daoism. While Daoism (also called Taoism) is as old as Buddhism, Daoism was indigenous to China.

Daoists do not view life as suffering. They believe in an ordered society and strict morality. But they also hold strong mystical beliefs such as ultimate transformation, where the soul lives after death and travels to the world of the immortals.


Buddhism as a State Religion

Buddhism's popularity led to the quick conversion to Buddhism by later Chinese rulers. The subsequent Sui and Tang Dynasties all adopted Buddhism as their religion.

The religion was also used by foreign rulers of China, such as the Yuan Dynasty and the Manchus, to connect with the Chinese and justify their rule. The Manchus strived to draw a parallel between Buddhism. a foreign religion, and their own reign as foreign leaders.

Contemporary Buddhism

Despite China's shift to atheism after the Communists took control of China in 1949, Buddhism continued to grow in China, especially after the economic reforms in the 1980s.

Today there are an estimated ​244 million followers of Buddhism in China, according to the Pew Research Center, and over 20,000 Buddhist temples. It is the largest religion in China. Its followers vary by ethnic group.

Ethnic Minority Groups that Practice Buddhism in China

Mulam (also practice Taoism)207,352GuangxiAbout the Mulam
Jingpo132,143YunnanAbout the Jingpo
Maonan (also practice Polytheism)107,166GuangxiAbout the Maonan
Blang92,000YunnanAbout the Blang
Achang33,936YunnanAbout the Achang
Jing or Gin (also practice Taoism)22,517GuangxiAbout the Jing
De'ang or Derung17,935YunnanAbout the De'ang
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Chiu, Lisa. "Buddhism in China." ThoughtCo, May. 23, 2018, thoughtco.com/buddhism-in-china-688147. Chiu, Lisa. (2018, May 23). Buddhism in China. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/buddhism-in-china-688147 Chiu, Lisa. "Buddhism in China." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/buddhism-in-china-688147 (accessed June 17, 2018).