Chapter Nine: The Golden Age Of China

Chapter Nine: The Golden Age of China

In order to move on or expand things have to change. China has been one of the first of the six civilizations to form. Confucius played an important role when it came to social roles and hierarchies. He instilled education and ranking. He also made it clear that superior and inferiors needed each other. What I found curious was that at one point they wanted to dismiss Buddhism, which is a religion that is primarily practiced in China. To be forbidden to use certain material when it came to constructing the faith’s imagery because they were so against social change was absurd to me. After time it was assimilated into the Chinese culture as well as the honoring of Confucius. Buddhism was from a price born in India. “ Thus, as Buddhism faded in the land of it’s birth, it became solidly rooted in much of East Asia, providing an element of cultural commonality for a vast region (Strayer, page 261).” I had no idea that the Buddhism was introduced through the silk trade. I always have been fawn of the practice. It’s encouraging to seek enlightment and find nirvana. It’s a serene faith that has practical ideas that portray some of the Indian Ideas, which make sense seeing Buddha was born in India. “The way and morality” are a good way of living. It was a religion that was practiced by elite and those who weren’t. To seek “the way” was not determined on social class nor social status. It was however a social change that many felt threatened by.