Question

background information: this passage was written by a tang dynasty official in 819 ce, in response to the growth of buddhism in china. buddha was a western barbarian. he did not understand chinese, and wore clothes of different cut and make. his tongue did not speak of the importance of the ancestors or the ancient kings; his body did not wear the clothes prescribed by our culture. he did not recognize the importance of the relationship between ministers towards his sovereign, nor the sentiments of the child towards his parents. suppose he were still living, and came to the capital to ask for an audience with the emperor. suppose it pleased your majesty to lodge and receive him, then your majesty would surely not grant him more than one interview. ... then you would have him escorted across the frontier, but you would prevent him from leading the people into error. why does the official believe that buddhism is not compatible with chinese culture? it gives too much authority to the king. it is incompatible with confucianism. its leader refused to kowtow to the emperor. it encourages affection between father and son.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option A: Buddhism doesn't give too much authority to the king; in fact, the official's view implies Buddhism might not respect the king - subject relationship properly, so A is wrong.
2. Analyze Option B: The passage focuses on cultural differences like clothing, ancestor worship, and family/official - sovereign relationships, not directly on Confucianism incompatibility (though Confucianism emphasizes these relationships, the passage's points are more about cultural norms than direct Confucian - Buddhist conflict), so B is not the best.
3. Analyze Option C: The passage says if Buddha came to the capital, the emperor would not grant more than one interview and send him away. Also, the official's view on Buddha not recognizing the importance of minister - sovereign relationship implies that the leader (Buddha) would not kowtow (show proper respect) to the emperor, which is a key point of incompatibility with Chinese cultural norms of respect for the emperor.
4. Analyze Option D: Buddhism is not about encouraging father - son affection in the way Chinese culture (Confucian - based) does; the passage says Buddha did not recognize the sentiments of the child towards his parents, so D is wrong.

Answer:

C. Its leader refused to kowtow to the emperor.