Hinduism In The Gupta Empire Vs. Buddhism In The T

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India is the home land for both Hinduism and Buddhism. Both religions existed during the Gupta Empire. Buddhism then expanded into Asia, and China; Hinduism expanded to southern India. Hinduism and Buddhism seek enlightenment, reincarnation, karma and have a social status hierarchy. There are many similarities but the differences in the way beliefs are practiced make them very different religions overall. POLITICAL IMPACTS: Hinduism: Hinduism flourished during the Gupta Empire. As the Hindu gods and goddesses grew in importance, Shiva, and Vishnu became the most revered. Gupta Kings worshiped Vishnu, in hope that the god would help them preserve their kingdom. Brahmans were members of the priestly Hindu caste, the highest level in Hindu society (Donald Johnson). Affiliations between the Brahman’s and Royalty were highly sought. Brahmans wrote manuals explaining the ideal life that Hindus should follow. “During the Gupta Age, the first stone temples were built to honor the Hindu gods and goddesses” (Donald Johnson). Brahmin and merchants donated money to build monasteries and as a consequence, the greatest art and architecture in Indian history was created. Buddhism: “Buddhism entered China from India” (Riley, 254) and flourished after the fall of the Confucius dominated Han Dynasty. The rulers and people liked the Buddhist belief of eternity and welcomed the philosophy. Rulers within the T’ang Dynasty used both the Confucius writings and the harmonious Buddhist beliefs to govern and prevent harm from coming to its people. As the T’ang Empire expanded, so did the popularity of the Buddhist belief. The era was known as the “golden age of Buddhism” in China. Eventually the T’ang rulers came to see Buddhism as undermining the Confucian Idea of the family. The Buddhist monasteries were drawing people away from not only family ties but obligations

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