Buddhism in China

Chinese Buddhism on the Silk Road Buddhism in China This map shows how Chinese Buddhism and its ideas spread along the Silk Road. Buddhism is one of the most popular and well-known religions in China. Buddhists worship the Buddha. The reason for this is to show respect. They worship at temples shrines, or at home. There are many ways to meditate. Usually, the Buddhist will sit somewhere quiet and concentrate on something to obtain peace of mind and tranquility. The picture below is one of a mandala, an object that is supposed to bring goodness to the world. It is usually made with fine sands to create patterns and designs. The colorful sands are made of ground gems, plants, stones, and other materials. Making a mandala can take several days, and upon completion, it is destroyed on purpose. All the sand is brushed to the middle of the design by a monk and then the sand is all thrown into a river or stream to spread the goodness to the rest of the world. The destruction of the mandala serves as a reminder of the short lives of humans. Buddhists must meditate, worship, honor the Buddha, and make pilgrimages. Buddhists must paint or draw images of the Buddha and hang them on walls or surfaces to show their honor and respect to the Buddha. The Mandala Worship Meditation Honoring the Buddha The Buddhists think that making pilgrimages to places that the Buddha visited during his lifetime is a very important practice. Pilgrimages poster yourself