Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t13.71

v1.c7.s7.t13.71

Nyaya theory was also introduced to China in ancient times. This dissemination was realised with the development of Buddhist Hetuvidyā in China. When Buddhism emerged, it did not have significant concerns about logic and debate issues. But along with the stronger and stronger ideological fighting between different ideological factions in ancient India, logical reasoning and argumentation skills gradually become an important means for various factions to win over followers and expand their influences. Nyaya’s theoretical specialty in this area gained Buddhist concern. Thus Buddhism began to attach importance to studying logic and debating skills. Buddhist Hetuvidya was set up under this background. Buddhism had developed its own logical and debated skills theory by taking reference of Nyaya’s relevant ideas.