Chapter Seven: India Ashoka's Conversion to Buddhism and the Prosperity of the Peacock Empire (17)

Ashoka is highly regarded by historians around the world. However, his struggle for the throne was won by bloodily killing many of his rival brothers. His generous patronage of Buddhism enabled it to be strongly promoted in India. After Xue's bloody and fierce battle to annex the hostile state just south of Orissa, his government's governing policy underwent a major change. He developed a profound reflection on the brutality of the outcome of the war.

For some reason, Buddhist sources describe Ashoka before he converted to Buddhism as a man with a short temper and easy anger. In one of the examples, this is what it says. He insisted on killing a woman in the palace because the woman said he was ugly. At least until he established hegemony, he was a man who was addicted to conquest and moodiness. Probably after seeing too many killings, Ashoka had an epiphany and decided to take refuge in Buddhism.

After taking refuge in Buddhism, he seemed to have changed into a person. He did his best to serve the people, to improve their welfare, and no longer relied on force to expand his territory. Taxes began to be used to build streets, hospitals, and provide resting places for people who traveled by. At the same time, he encouraged people to become vegetarian and worked to reduce the slaughter of animals. He severely ordered a ban on the slaughter of cattle, whether for sacrifice or food. This practice is much like the religious worship of cattle during the Arabba period in India. Ashoka's practices caused concern among the Brahmins. Because these practices fundamentally shake the tradition of sacrifice that the Brahmins have always had.

He was first a lay buddhist disciple and may have officially sworn to join the ranks of monks, but he did not give up the throne. The personal life of Ashoka after joining Buddhism influenced state policy. Given the Buddhist teachings, the ruler of a country should be a person who spreads peace and establishes a regular government. So he set out to build a good government that could implement the laws and policies he had pursued in order to oppose war and the slaughter of animals. He opposed too cruel punishments, but did not abolish the death penalty. He adhered to the idea of centralized government and achieved some success, but also met with some opposition. The most resentful of these is the disempowered Brahmin class. They tried to incite local forces to rebel. However, during the time of Ashoka, the Brahmins did not succeed. Some local powers and Brahmins are waiting for the moment when the dynasty weakens in order to revive its lost status.