The Spread And Distribution Of Buddhism In Guangdong During Wei-Jin And Southern-Northern Dynasties Period

Buddhism originated in India,and it was introduced to China by sea or land. South China Sea is the important route for the introduction of Buddhism to China,and Guangdong is the first arrival place of Buddhism being introduced to China by sea.According to the existing materials,at least in the Eastern Han Dynasty monks coming from Western Regions appeared,and Buddhism has been introduced into Guangdong.During Wei and Jin dynasties,the activities of Chinese and foreign Buddhist limited to the point and the line,lacking of large-scale spread.During South and North dynasties,more monks came to Guangdong to preach Buddhism,and Buddhism gradually moved from the early stage of spread to the stage of development.Looking at the Wei-Jin and the Southern-Northern dynasties period,the typical line that the Western monks spreading Buddhism by sea to China is through the Maritime Silk Road to Panyu.After acting for a period of time in Panyu area,most of them come into the mountains of northern Guangdong along the traditional business line--Beijiang river,then come into Jiangnan and Zhongyuan areas.During Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties Period,the activities of foreign and Chinese monks mainly concentrated in Panyu of the central area of Guangdong and Shixing of the northern area of Guangdong.The places of translating Buddhist scriptures in Guangdong province concentrated in Panyu.Till the end of the Southern Dynasty,monks built many temples in Guangdong,the most in Panyu,then Shixing,the others in Luofu Mountain of the eastern area of Guangdong.Looking at the Wei-Jin and the Southern-Northern dynasties period,the spread of Buddhism in Guangdong mainly concentrated in Panyu of the central area of Guangdong and Shixing of the northern area of Guangdong.Buddhism doesn't only relate with such as philosophy,ideology,ethics,morality,but also with the physical environment,which have been affecting its dissemination and development profoundly.In addition,the spread of Buddhism and development is inseparable from the suitability of the social conditions,including economy,politics,culture and so on.