Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c4.s2.15

v1.c4.s2.15

Around the beginning of the present era, Buddhism was introduced into China. This is the most significant event in the history of India-China cultural exchange. Initially, Buddhism won imperial recognition and was accepted by a few noblemen, who took Buddha as a god and worshipped him together with Lao Zi. Later on, the followers of Buddha began to increase. According to the 6^th century CE work *Eminent Monks*, the first Indian monks to come to China were Kasyapamatanga, Dharmaratna and then Anshigao (from Arsaces) and Lokaksema (from the Yuezhi). Other Indian monks then came to China and were engaged mainly in translating Buddhist sutras. In the 1^st century CE, China built its first Buddhist temple, i.e. White Horse Temple and the first sutras were translated into Chinese. In the 2^nd century CE, a man named Zhai Rong became a legendary figure in the Buddhist history of China. He was in charge of land and water transportation in Guangling (now Yangzhou of Jiangsu Province) and Danyang and spent a large amount of money and material to build copper Buddha statues and pagodas and temples. Within his jurisdiction, those listening to and studying Buddhist scriptures would be exempted from compulsory labour service and more than 5,000 families were converted into Buddhists. On the occasion of Buddha's Birth Festival, he would provide a grand feast along the road attracting nearly 10,000 people to dine and watch.