The Influence of Buddhism on Chinese Traditional Culture

The profound and far-reaching Buddhist ideology and culture is not only an important part of the traditional culture of Chinese nationalities, but also has had a significant impact and positive effect on many aspects of secular culture, such as social, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and moral aspects, literature, language, music, dance, architecture, sculpture, painting, astronomy, medicine, science and technology, as well as folk customs and folkways such as marriage, funeral, and festivals, and the character and psychological quality of the nation. It has had a significant impact and positive effect on many aspects of secular culture.

Buddhism was introduced into China and has had a great influence on the development of Chinese history and culture, leaving a splendid Buddhist cultural heritage in Chinese history. The exchange and fusion of Indian Buddhist culture and Chinese inherent culture not only led to the comprehensive development of the combination of Buddhism and Chinese culture, but also in the process of fusion formed academic thinking, cultivation methods, music and art, crafts and architecture, customs and habits. Chinese Buddhist culture has become an important part of traditional Chinese culture.

Buddhist philosophy contains profound wisdom, and the interaction between Buddhism and classical Chinese philosophy has pushed philosophy to put forward new propositions and new methods. Buddhism has profound and original insights into the universe and life, reflections on human reason, and analysis of concepts. In its outlook on life, Buddhism emphasizes the self-consciousness of the subject and links the liberation of one's self with the salvation of mankind. It has given new inspiration to the spiritual life of the people in traditional Chinese society with its unique method of thought and way of life.

Buddhism brought a new mood, a new style of writing, and a new way of expressing meaning and phrasing to Chinese culture, literature, and art. The thousands of volumes of classics translated from Sanskrit are themselves great and rich works of literature. Ma Ming's "Praise of the Acts of the Buddha" brought a model for long narrative poems; the sutras of the Dharma Flower, Vimalaya, and Hundred Metaphors inspired the creation of novels in the Jin and Tang dynasties; and the ideas of Prajna and Zen Buddhism influenced the poems of Tao Yuanming, Wang Wei, Bai Juyi, and Su Shi. Variant texts, popular sermons, and the corpus of discourses by Zen masters are all y related to Chinese popular literature.

The role played by Buddhism in the art of Chinese music and painting. The development of Chinese painting from the literati painting of Wang Wei's school to the pictorial painting that flourished after the Song and Yuan dynasties is related to Zen thought.

Along with Buddhism came the practice of science and technology, such as astronomy and medicine.

Buddhism was accompanied by the spread of science and technology such as astronomy and medicine.