Alex Koinski
Professor McCoy
HIS 104
May 4, 2015 Imagine visiting a far, distant land where nearly everything is different from home; this is how a merchant would have felt travelling from the European West to the Chinese East and vice versa. Many merchants did not have to make such a long journey due to middlemen on the trade routes, so they would not have been exposed to such a stark change in cultures. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Europeans were not very open-minded when it came to foreign ideas about politics, philosophies, or religions. China, other than the time when foreign religions were attacked by the Tang dynasty in the 9th century, was generally accepting of different beliefs. The difference in tolerance would play a role in …show more content…
The Chinese merchant visiting Western Europe would probably be somewhat confused with the amount of power the Church had. In China, Buddhism was the closest to an organized religion, yet Buddhism did not have nearly as powerful authority as the Church did in Europe. For the most part, though, China was tolerant of other religions, with Christianity being accepted in China other than the attack on foreign religions between 840 and 846 CE. In 638 CE, an Imperial Rescript was instated claiming that, “(Heaven) caused a suitable religion to be instituted for every region and clime so that each one of the races of mankind might be saved. … This Teaching [Christianity] is helpful to all creatures and beneficial to all men. So let it have free course throughout the Empire" (The Human Record 273). This is a prime example of the tolerance that the Chinese had of different religions. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the amount of Christianity in China was probably significantly lower than before the attack on foreign religions, but there was likely still a trace. The Chinese merchant would probably be aware of its existence, but probably would not know too much about it. What the Chinese merchant might not be happy about is the European intolerance of foreign …show more content…
Both of them would likely look down on the other’s form of governments, since feudalism and an empire are very different, and both would think their way is better. Since the Chinese were more open-minded about foreign religions, he would probably not have a problem with Christianity, although would likely be concerned with the closed-mindedness of the Europeans when it comes to outside religions as well as the constant warfare going on within Feudalism. The European would be very confused about the Eastern religions, and would probably write them off as all heretics, not bothering to ponder their ways. They would be civil and respectful of the other culture, since their main objective for travelling so far would be for trade, and they wouldn’t want to be disrespectful at the cost of profit. Without a doubt, the visit would likely be a life-changing experience for both of them, as they would be introduced to very different politics, religions, and just different cultures in
Professor McCoy
HIS 104
May 4, 2015 Imagine visiting a far, distant land where nearly everything is different from home; this is how a merchant would have felt travelling from the European West to the Chinese East and vice versa. Many merchants did not have to make such a long journey due to middlemen on the trade routes, so they would not have been exposed to such a stark change in cultures. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Europeans were not very open-minded when it came to foreign ideas about politics, philosophies, or religions. China, other than the time when foreign religions were attacked by the Tang dynasty in the 9th century, was generally accepting of different beliefs. The difference in tolerance would play a role in …show more content…
The Chinese merchant visiting Western Europe would probably be somewhat confused with the amount of power the Church had. In China, Buddhism was the closest to an organized religion, yet Buddhism did not have nearly as powerful authority as the Church did in Europe. For the most part, though, China was tolerant of other religions, with Christianity being accepted in China other than the attack on foreign religions between 840 and 846 CE. In 638 CE, an Imperial Rescript was instated claiming that, “(Heaven) caused a suitable religion to be instituted for every region and clime so that each one of the races of mankind might be saved. … This Teaching [Christianity] is helpful to all creatures and beneficial to all men. So let it have free course throughout the Empire" (The Human Record 273). This is a prime example of the tolerance that the Chinese had of different religions. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the amount of Christianity in China was probably significantly lower than before the attack on foreign religions, but there was likely still a trace. The Chinese merchant would probably be aware of its existence, but probably would not know too much about it. What the Chinese merchant might not be happy about is the European intolerance of foreign …show more content…
Both of them would likely look down on the other’s form of governments, since feudalism and an empire are very different, and both would think their way is better. Since the Chinese were more open-minded about foreign religions, he would probably not have a problem with Christianity, although would likely be concerned with the closed-mindedness of the Europeans when it comes to outside religions as well as the constant warfare going on within Feudalism. The European would be very confused about the Eastern religions, and would probably write them off as all heretics, not bothering to ponder their ways. They would be civil and respectful of the other culture, since their main objective for travelling so far would be for trade, and they wouldn’t want to be disrespectful at the cost of profit. Without a doubt, the visit would likely be a life-changing experience for both of them, as they would be introduced to very different politics, religions, and just different cultures in