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Buddhism Under Attack:

Buddhism Under Attack:. The Attempted Eradication of Buddhism in Tibet during the 9 th and 20 th Centuries. By: Selena Strandberg. http://library.thinkquest.org/10131/tibet.html. A Cyclical Pattern. Arrival of Dharma met with opposition

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Buddhism Under Attack:

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  1. Buddhism Under Attack: The Attempted Eradication of Buddhism in Tibet during the 9th and 20th Centuries By: Selena Strandberg http://library.thinkquest.org/10131/tibet.html

  2. A Cyclical Pattern • Arrival of Dharma met with opposition • Persecution of Buddhism - a cyclical pattern in many Asian nation-states • Destroyed/Revived • Cambodia, Japan

  3. Case Studies • Cambodia • Initial establishment of Buddhism - 12th century • Struggled against the colonial powers • 1975 – Khmer Rouge actively persecutes the religion • Japan • Introduced from Korea in 552 CE • 17th century rise of Shinto and Confucianism • Ruler Mitsukuni contributed to destruction of the religion

  4. Tibet • Eradication under Lang Darma – 9th Century • Current Confliction & the 1959 Chinese Communist takeover http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potala_Palace

  5. Research Question • How does the 20th Century persecution of Tibetan Buddhism compare with the 9th Century persecution?

  6. Methodology • Compare and Contrast • Focus on: • The rulers who initiated the destruction • The type and extent of destruction • The possible motives of destruction • The consequences of destruction • The reaction of the people/how they were influenced

  7. 9th Century Destruction • Timeline for First Destruction of Buddhism • 836 – Lang Darma (b. c. 803) succeeds. Suppression of Buddhism in Central Tibet. • 842 – Assassination of Lang Darma. Succession contested. Break-up of Tibetan kingdom. Snellgrove, David and Hugh Richardson. A Cultural History of Tibet. Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1995. 92-94. 288-289.

  8. Lang Darma – Motives for Destruction • Responsible for the assassination of Tri Ralpachen • Pro-Bon; anti-Buddhism • Motivated by jealousy and hatred of Buddhism http://www.tibet.com/status/3kings.html

  9. Type and Extent of Destruction • Created anti-Buddhism laws • Persecuted monks and nuns • Executions • Closing of Temples • Defamed Buddha • Burned Sacred Texts • Damaged Shrines • Pro-Bon ministers appointed as leaders • Places of study destroyed

  10. Reaction of the People • Complied: sacrificed their religion • Refused to Comply: executed/tortured • Many fled Tibet

  11. Consequences of Destruction • Buddhism nearly erased from Tibet for over 100 years • Destruction of many important texts/shrines http://www.rimebuddhism.com/projects_translation.html

  12. 20th Century Destruction • Timeline for the 2nd Attempt at Destruction of Buddhism • 1949 – People’s Republic of China established. Begins focused effort on annihilation. • 1966 – 1976 – Cultural Revolution. Severe persecution. • 1976 – PRC leader Mao Zedong dies. • 1980 – Some religious reintegration is permitted, though highly restricted and monitored by the PRC. • 1996 – Strike Hard and Reeducation Campaigns initiated. Heavy restriction of religion. • Present – Continued tight control of religion and execution of political prisoners

  13. Motives for 20th Century Destruction • Initiated by the Chinese Communist Party under the instruction of Mao Zedong • Tibetan religious cultural identity poses a threat to Chinese political power http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/art/94606/Mao-Zedong-1966

  14. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/01/08/tibet.lama.01/map.china.tibet.gifhttp://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/01/08/tibet.lama.01/map.china.tibet.gif

  15. Type and Extent of Destruction • Estimated only 13 of 6,000 monasteries remained in 1979 • Monks and nuns tortured and executed • Refusal of the Chinese government to acknowledge religious leaders • Reeducation systems (particularly in 1996) • Burning/destruction of precious shrines

  16. Reaction of the People • Many flee to India and Nepal • Dalai Lama established government in exile • Protests held in Tibet • Remaining monks and nuns forced to choose: • Comply with new communist restrictions • Disrobe

  17. Ongoing Consequences of Destruction • Government in Exile in India • Human rights violations throughout the Tibet Autonomous Region • Strengthened cultural identity of the Tibetans

  18. 9th Century Motives Lang Darma’s jealousy and hatred of Buddhism 20th Century Motives Mao Zedong sees religion and the strength of the Tibetan identity as a source of opposition Comparisons

  19. 9th Century Destruction Monastic figures forced to disrobe Execution & torture Flee to neighboring countries More isolated 20th Century Destruction Monastic figures forced to disrobe Execution & torture Flee to neighboring countries More globally connected Appeal to international legal and human rights community Comparisons

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