The Early Development of Buddhism in the Red River Delta Basin, Jiaozhi, and Southern China: The Case of a Sogdian-Jiaozhi Buddhist Monk Kang Senghui

For many centuries, Buddhologists have considered Chinese Buddhism as a dominant and influential force in the Far East. However, this assumption is debatable. My dissertation addresses this assumption to determine its validity. Here, I have argued that Early Buddhism in Jiaozhi has had an indispensable and influence on Early Chinese Buddhism due largely to the significant contributions of Kang Senghui, a Sogdian-Jiaozhi born Buddhist monk. Hence, I have reappraised his life, his role, and his contributions to Early Chinese Buddhism, as well as the cultural and social environments prior and contemporary to him. It is my conclusion that Jiaozhi Buddhism in Red Delta River basin has had a great influence on the genesis of Early Chinese Buddhism as well as providing a solid foundation for Chinese Buddhism through the groundwork of Kang Senghui via his own Jiaozhi philosophies and ideologies.