That is the very stuff of Buddhism. This tradition has been important for long periods in almost every Asian culture; traces remain everywhere. All the cultural commonalities noted above can be connected with it. No other element in the historical background has had a comparable impact.

The significance of this is often missed. One reason is the very success of Buddhist syncretism. The top-down elements of a culture may not bear the imprint clearly.

In China, much that is seen as Confucian conceals a strong Buddhist element. After all, how did Buddhism secure its position in Chinese civilisation? Confucian thinking, while focused on social order, equally always assumed the importance of a harmonious personal life; but, apart from extolling the virtues of benevolence (Ren) and sincerity (Shih) in the performance of Li (ritual, duty), was silent on how this was to be achieved. Buddhist teaching filled the gap. For 1000 years the literate classes spent much of their time translating Buddhist texts. This changed the language and the conceptual structure, as appears in the idiom of neo-Confucianism.

So movements to purge the Buddhist element from Chinese culture merely tend to increase the need for it. There is a Buddhism-shaped hole, which will always need to be filled. The personal dimension cannot be gainsaid.