Buddhism Under Attack:

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.h
tml
12
20th Century Destruction

• Timeline for the 2nd Attempt at Destruction of
  Buddhism
• 1949 Peoples 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/ti
bet.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
Comparisons

• 9th Century Motives
• Lang Darmas jealousy and hatred of Buddhism

• 20th Century Motives
• Mao Zedong sees religion and the strength of the
  Tibetan identity as a source of opposition

19
Comparisons

• 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