The Syncretism of Buddhism

Through all of the obstacles, Buddhism has managed it's way into being accepted in China, then Korea, and lastly Japan. In China, the missionary Fotudeng, miraculously healed people and held programs for bringing people under the influence of Buddhism, where many worshiped the Buddha. However, some believed that the Buddha was a barbarian and that his teaching is against the taking of life. Without capital punishment, there would be no stability and order. However Fotudeng was cleverly able to respond to any question that sprung up about Buddhism. In Korea, Buddhism came through government and political officials. After the death of a secretary who was for Buddhism and when these geographic changes began to occur, the king and his officials took an oath to worship the Buddha and revere the clergy. However before, Korea didn't accept Buddhism because they thought it was the cause for the crops being scarce, and the people being restless. In Japan, Buddhism came through trade routes and from monks that traveled there. However, because of the disease spreading when Buddhism was accepted, they lost respect for the Buddha and abandoned his teachings. But since amazed at the site of another miraculous event where there was a shining camphor-wood floating on the surface of the sea where Buddhist chants were heard, they believed in the power of the Buddha.

All of these countries applied Buddhism to their lifestyles and were all influenced by the miraculous events that took place in Buddhism. However, the classes of people who taught Buddhism and the ways the philosophy was enforced were different. Overall, the spread of Buddhism in East Asia seemed to be voluntary conversion because the people, or kings I should say, chose to spread Buddhism or not and they weren't under much pressure. Buddhism just manages to spread first in China, then Korea, and lastly Japan and this particular order is because of it's geography.