China Travel Advice

When you travel in China, you will come across many Buddhist temples and artifacts. Known as one of the Three Teachings of traditional China (the other two being Confucianism and Daoism), Buddhism, which originated in ancient India, was introduced into China by way of central, along the Silk Road that penetrated the deserts in the region. The religion started to spread in China quickly after the 2nd century AD, when China went through a period of civil wars and chaos. Evidently the strife and upheavals turned the Chinese mind to the spirit and the Buddha offered many Chinese the much needed consolation and the hope for happiness that was sorely missing in their contemporary life.

Chinese Buddhist Sculpture from 6th Century: A Buddhist stone tablet from the 6ht centuryShown here is a stone tablet from the 6th century, when East Wei, one of the short-lived dynasties during the period, dominated part of North China. Hand gestures of the Buddhist figures – called hand mudras - have particular meanings. In the sculpture seen here, the Buddha’s right hand indicates protection (“no fear”) and the left hand signals compassion (fulfillment of all wishes).