The Study Of Eastern Jin Dynasty Buddhist Thought And Literature

When Buddhism was introduced to China during the Han Dynasty, it first existed alongside the traditional Chinese Taoist thought. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Buddhism was then assimilated further with traditional Chinese culture. It then developed and influenced the entire country and the study of Buddhism even surpassed that of previous dynasties. At this point of time, Buddhism shedded the influence of Taoism (metaphysics) and developed independently. It then gradually became an important integral part of Chinese traditional culture. During this period, many eminent Buddhist monks appeared, such as Fotucheng (佛图澄), Daoan (道安), Zhidaolin (支道 林), Jiumoluoshi (Kumarajiva), Sengzhao (僧肇), Huiyuan (慧远), Zhudaosheng (竺 道生) etc. The contributions by the various monks thus showed that the Eastern Jin Dynasty was an important age in the Buddhist history of China.At that time, Buddhist thought and culture was gradually diffused into the soul and daily life of the people. The significant influence of Buddhism on both culture and thought was pronounced. The same can be said of literature. The Eastern Jin Dynasty was also a critical period in the development of Chinese literature. At this stage, the frequent contacts of Buddhist monks with both metaphysics and literary people promoted the acceptance of Buddhism into the upper classes of society. In the literary field, the ruling classes have already implicitly promoted Buddhism in their poems and other works which also revealed their own understanding of Buddhism. The influence of Buddhism can be seen from the thoughts and works of literary people of that period. This is especially more pronounced in poems, prose and novels. Also, many literary people were well versed in both Buddhism and metaphysics. Thus in their works, they would either blend in metaphysics with Buddhism or explain the theory of the "sudden" enlightenment of the Buddha Nature; or also express the illusionary nature of the human world and other problems of life and death. This also then promoted the development of Chinese philosophy. With regard to just the poems and prose of Eastern Jin Dynasty, many had intimate relationship with the various thoughts peculiars to Buddhism, e.g. Emptiness (sunya), Mind, Compassion, Cause and Effect, Precepts (Vinaya) etc. The Buddhist stories of that period were highly imaginative. The propagation of the mystical powers of Buddhist figures, especially the Divine miracles of Guanyin ( Avalokitesvara ) Bodhisattva brought new life to the growth of Chinese classical novels.In conclusion, through the mutual influence and absorption of both Buddhist works and literary works, we can see that the extent of the influence of Buddhist thought can be said to be both deep and far reaching.