The Integration Of Samsara In China

Closely related to the essence of beings, the forms and their transformation,and the social ethics, individual practice and liberation, Samsara (transmigration) is one of the core conception of Buddhism.The conception,origined from Brahmanism in early India, means endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in a certain realms of existence in Buddhism. After Buddhism was introduced into China, Samsara brings a profound influnence to Chinese thoughts, social life and religious belief.In this thesis, chapter1mainly introduces the souce of Samsara in ancient India and the inheritance of Buddhism.this conceptiong has experienced a transfomation and generats a theoretical contridiction, which is the conflict between anatman and the subject of trans migration.Chapter2discusses the collision and integration after Samsara was brought into China.In this chapter we will firstly overview the Chinese view of life and death and its original notion of comeuppance. Samsara form Buddhism sitimulates severe arguements between Buddhists and the others, which is known as the discrimination of body and spirit.Chapter3discusses the transformation of Samsara in Chinese society, mainly in folk belief and literature, and the significant influnence of moral cultivation it has, on the life and thoughts of Chinese people.