中国文化英语教程unit 8.ppt

* Religious Diversity Zoroastrianism originated in Persia, where it was twice established as the state religion. It had been introduced by Suguda merchants entering China in the early 4th century, and was officially recognized in the early Tang Dynasty. Zoroastrianism (琐罗亚斯德教 / 袄教)) Religious Diversity Manichaeism had been created by Mani, a Persian, later banished (流放) by the Zoroastrians. After Mani was persecuted (迫害) to death by the Persian king Bahram I in 277, his followers fled abroad, spreading their religion to many other places. It has been documented that Manichaeism reached the inlands of China as early as the reign of Emperor Gaozong. Empress Wu, who ruled the Tang Empire from 690 to 705, approved the teachings of Manichaeism as well. Manichaeism (摩尼教) Seeking Buddhist Truths Xuanzang (玄奘) Yijing (义净) Not only did the Tang Empire open its doors to overseas friends and embrace foreign cultures, many of its people also went abroad to study local cultures. Two of the most outstanding examples: Seeking Buddhist Truths Xuanzang (602-664) left China for South Asia in 627, and returned to Chang’an in 645. During those 17 years, he visited and studied Buddhism in more than 100 small states in the Western Regions and in and around what is now South Asia. He brought home 657 sets of Buddhist scriptures. Seeking Buddhist Truths Emperor Taizong appointed more than 50 learned monks to help Xuanzang translate the scriptures. Xuanzang worked as the chief translator and worked day and night over the next 19 years and translated 75 sets of scriptures in l,335 volumes. Seeking Buddhist Truths Xuanzang also dictated the 12-volume Tang- dynasty Records of the Western Regions, written down by his disciple Bianji. Seeking Buddhist Truths The book recounted what Xuanzang had experienced or heard about in the 138 countries or states in the Western Regions, including their geography, transport, climate, products, peoples, languages, history, religions, politics, ec