Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s9.t1.16

v1.c7.s9.t1.16

In allusion to the dissemination of Buddhism in China, in the end period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there had already existed the anecdote or legend about Lao Zi’s creation of Buddhism in India and enlightening the local habitants after he had left Hangu Pass. To the times of Emperor Hui of the Jin Dynasty, there was a debate between Wang Fu, libationer of Tianshi Daoism, and Shramana Po Yuan about the supremacy of two religions, from then on Wang Fu wrote the book about Lao Zi’s creation of religion in alien land with the aim to belittle Shakyamuni. That book was expanded with additional 10 volumes by the posterities that were used by the Taoists of various generations to elevate Taoism and belittle or discriminate against Buddhism, and, was of cause bitterly opposed by the Buddhists. In the times of Emperors Xianzhong and Shizu in Yuan Dynasty, there was a great debate on true and false of the book of Lao Zi, *Creation of Buddhism in Alien Land*, followed by imperial court ban of the Taoism books. And this book was on the top of the list of the books to be burned. And hence this book disappeared from history forever. In the exchange between China and the West over contemporary era, Lao Zi’s teaching has spread to European and Asiatic regions, arousing interests of many scholars, thus furthering the development of oriental and occidental philosophies.