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The Positive Influence of Buddhism Upon the Development of Science and Technology in Ancient China



Author(s)

ZHOU Hanguang

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5313/2019.04.005

It is important and worthwhile to discuss what kind of influence Buddhism cast on the development of science and technology in ancient China. The author does not agree with Joseph Needham’s view: “There can be little doubt that on the whole its action was powerfully inhibitory”, and the author thinks Buddhism took a positive promotion and influence on the development of science and technology in ancient China as a whole. There were four main ways of Chinese Buddhism influence on ancient science and technology: (1) The Buddhist scriptures actually contain a wealth of knowledge of science and technology; the eminent Buddhist monks introduced them into China through translation, therefore enriched contents of science and technology in ancient China. (2) Some knowledge of science and technology in ancient Indian and other districts got into China along with the spread of Buddhism. (3) Ancient Chinese Buddhists took part in science and technology practice actively at that time, and they had got a series of achievements in science and technology. (4) Being inspired and affected by Buddhist scientific knowledge, those non-Buddhist scientists had engaged in many created work in a further step, and made much contributions to development of science and technology. The doctrine of Buddhism was not a complete hindrance to the development of science and technology, and the result turned out contrary in many respects that it had promoted development of science and technology. In fact, Chinese Buddhism had made many important contributions in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and so on.

Buddhism, positive influence, science and technology, ancient China