Changes

Buddhism gained more widespread popularity (i.e. among the masses) in the sixth century, as it began to take on new forms specifically adapted to Chinese society, and became more accessible to the masses. The emergence of [[Pure Land Buddhism]] at this time was a key element of these developments, focusing on the idea of salvation through faith, committing oneself to a spiritual and upright life, and through the aid of compassionate deities, especially [[Amitabha]] (Amida Buddha, the Buddha of the Western Paradise, i.e. the Pure Land) and [[Kannon|Guanyin]] (J: Kannon), the bodhisattva of compassion. Other forms of Buddhism required its devotees to possess significant wealth (to donate to Buddhist temples), leisure time (to devote to prayer, ritual, and study of religious texts), and learning (to study the religious texts, and to perform complex rituals); by contrast, Pure Land Buddhism focused on simpler rituals, and expressions of faith.

Buddhism gained more widespread popularity (i.e. among the masses) in the sixth century, as it began to take on new forms specifically adapted to Chinese society, and became more accessible to the masses. The emergence of [[Pure Land Buddhism]] at this time was a key element of these developments, focusing on the idea of salvation through faith, committing oneself to a spiritual and upright life, and through the aid of compassionate deities, especially [[Amitabha]] (Amida Buddha, the Buddha of the Western Paradise, i.e. the Pure Land) and [[Kannon|Guanyin]] (J: Kannon), the bodhisattva of compassion. Other forms of Buddhism required its devotees to possess significant wealth (to donate to Buddhist temples), leisure time (to devote to prayer, ritual, and study of religious texts), and learning (to study the religious texts, and to perform complex rituals); by contrast, Pure Land Buddhism focused on simpler rituals, and expressions of faith.

[[Tiantai]] (J: [[Tendai]]), [[Huayuan]], and [[Esoteric Buddhism]] also developed around this time, in the 6th-8th centuries, though Esoteric Buddhism was never as strong or long-lasting in China as it would become in Japan, as the [[Shingon]] sect.<ref>Schirokauer, et al, 113.</ref>

[[Tiantai]] (J: [[Tendai]]), [[Huayan]], and [[Esoteric Buddhism]] also developed around this time, in the 6th-8th centuries, though Esoteric Buddhism was never as strong or long-lasting in China as it would become in Japan, as the [[Shingon]] sect.<ref>Schirokauer, et al, 113.</ref>

[[Zen|Chan Buddhism]] (J: Zen) was another major form of Buddhism to develop in China, gaining a widespread following among elites in the 8th century. Like Pure Land Buddhism, it rejected religious texts, deities, and complex (Esoteric) rituals, and focused instead on the personal pursuit of enlightenment, through meditation and spiritual contemplation of essential questions and concepts. Where Pure Land Buddhism placed relatively little focus on monasticism, however, being a more popular form of religion, Chan embraced the monastic tradition; the truest devotees of Chan Buddhism became monks, and devoted themselves to meditation and spiritual pursuits within a Chan monastery.

[[Zen|Chan Buddhism]] (J: Zen) was another major form of Buddhism to develop in China, gaining a widespread following among elites in the 8th century. Like Pure Land Buddhism, it rejected religious texts, deities, and complex (Esoteric) rituals, and focused instead on the personal pursuit of enlightenment, through meditation and spiritual contemplation of essential questions and concepts. Where Pure Land Buddhism placed relatively little focus on monasticism, however, being a more popular form of religion, Chan embraced the monastic tradition; the truest devotees of Chan Buddhism became monks, and devoted themselves to meditation and spiritual pursuits within a Chan monastery.