Page 18 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

1. Sakyamuni Buddha as the Original Buddha.
2. ere is no supreme deity who created the world and

governed it.

3. e Four Noble Truths.

4. e Noble Eightfold Path.

5. e Truth of Dependent Origination (Patticasamupada).

6. e concepts on Impermanence (Anicca), Suffering

(Dukkha) and Non-self (Anatta).

7. e ree Trainings (Trisiksa) of Morality (sila),

Meditation (samadhi) and Wisdom (prajna).

Both Schools of Buddhism entered China a few hundred years

after the Buddha’s death but the Mahayana took firm roots in the

hearts of the Chinese as can be seen by the number of Mahayana

Sects that eventually developed.

hinese uddhism

Historical record has it that two Buddhist missionaries from

India, on the 30th day of the 12th month, in the year 68 ,

arrived at the court of Emperor Ming (ruled 58–75 ) of the

Han Dynasty. ey enjoyed imperial favours and stayed on to

translate various Buddhists Texts, one of which, e Sutra in

Forty-two Sections, enjoyed wide popularity which continues to

be so even today. Buddhism soon took roots in the Chinese soil

covering the entire country with monasteries which welcome all

who felt a call to enter a monastic life. ese monasteries sub-

sisted on a common fund sustained by gifts from the charitable.

ey became a refuge for the unhappy, the unwanted and those

who have noble intentions.

 