GENERAL TRENDS

Strong Central Court

Rule by Empire

Many Separate Kingdoms seeking Reunification

Cao Cao (155-220): a cruel, ambitious leader for Wei Kingdom (220-265) (also known as a great poet!).

Zhu Geliang (181-234): famous minister and tactician for Shu Han Kingdom (221-263).

Xian Bei: tribal group (devout Buddhists) that ruled the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535).

Six Dynasties (317-589): wealthy families fled to the South to set up new bases of power.

Court-based Statecraft Confucianism

Rise of "Localized" Confucianism

Promotion by Merit

Promotion by Social Standing

Nine Ranks System: method first employed during the Three Kingdoms period of recruiting and evaluating good officials through the recommendations of a "worthy" Senior Rectifier.

North as Political Center

Political Competition Between North and South

Court & Imperial Family as Dominant Social Force

Local Aristocracy as Dominant Social Force

“Guests” and “Fighting men” (Buchu): men who were armed and retained by large land-owning families, not entirely free to go.

Court-centered Culture

Aristocratic Culture Dominant

Buddhism

Main Principles & Schools

Gautama Siddhartha (Sakyamuni or “sage of the Sakya tribe of Northern India) (ca. 563-483 BC) is the professed founder of Buddhism.

The three “Jewels” of Buddhism

a. The Buddha himself

b. The dharma (teachings)

c. The sangha (community of believers)

The Four Noble Truths & the Eight-fold Path

Theravada (Lesser Vehicle): predominate in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia; stronger focus on good works in the community. Nirvana reached (as an arahat) by ones' own efforts.

Mahayana (Greater Vehicle): in East Asia; Strong focus on self-cultivation and faith. Goal was to become a bodhisattva by postponing one’s own enlightenment to help others.

Historical Development

Buddhism’s Arrival and Adaptation in China

The Northern Wei (386-534) rulers were great patrons of Buddhism.

The Chinese Goddess of Compassion Guanyin, while still in India, was the male Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, who was famed for his mercy.

The fierce Indian Bodhisattva Maitreya became the Mi lo Buddha (or “Laughing Buddha”).

Buddhism vs. Confucianism