Q17

Criteria	Marks
Presents a comprehensive and accurate analysis of the impact of ONE significant person/school of thought on Buddhism; Integrates the statement effectively throughout the response; Supports a cohesive and well-structured response with detailed, relevant and accurate information; Integrates relevant and accurate terminology	17–20
Presents an accurate analysis of the impact of ONE significant person/school of thought on Buddhism; Integrates the statement within the response; Supports a structured response with relevant and accurate information; Uses relevant and accurate terminology	13–16
Presents some analysis of the impact of ONE significant person/school of thought on Buddhism; Refers to the statement within the response; Supports the response with relevant information; Uses accurate terminology	9–12
Makes general statements about ONE significant person/school of thought on Buddhism; May refer to the statement within the response; Uses some information and/or terminology	5–8
Makes general statements about Buddhism; May use some terminology	1–4

Answers could include:

• Asoka, also known as Asoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent during the 3rd century BCE. His reign from 268 to 232 BCE is significant for various reasons, including his role as an ‘agent of change’ in the context of Buddhism.
• One of the most significant acts of Asoka was his conversion to Buddhism after the destructive Kalinga War, resulting in his proactive agency of ‘change’ in his kingdom. The intense remorse he felt due to the massive loss of life prompted a spiritual transformation. This conversion had a profound impact on the status of Buddhism, as the emperor himself became a patron and practitioner of the faith, advocating for and implementing change within his dynasty, and ‘inspiring’ the Theravada Buddhist expression in Sri Lanka. Asoka founded his foreign and diplomatic relations on a policy of peace in a context of historical tribal warfare. Asoka was also an ‘agent of change’ in his conversion of his kingdom to a vegetarian court based on the Buddhist ethics of compassion for sentient beings.
• Asoka actively propagated the core values of Buddhism, including non-violence, compassion (karuna), and moral conduct. He inscribed these principles on pillars and rocks throughout his empire, creating what are now known as the Edicts of Asoka. These edicts served as a form of moral and ethical guidance for his subjects enriching the faith and reflected the emperor's commitment to Buddhist ideals. These edicts facilitated the everyday implementation of these Buddhist ideals, transforming the Indian empire into a collective Buddhist community, and continue to do so today. The edicts not only provided an avenue of education for Asoka’s subjects, but due to being placed in ports and prominent trade areas, exposed foreign subjects to these Buddhist ideals also, resulting in the conversion of foreigners to Buddhism and creating a new form of religious expression.
• Asoka played a crucial role in supporting and promoting Buddhist monastic institutions. He provided resources, monetary funds, land, and other forms of assistance to Buddhist monks and nuns, fostering the growth and stability of the Buddhist Sangha and ‘enriching the faith’. This support contributed to the establishment of a more organised and institutionalised form of Buddhism, and provided common Buddhists with opportunities for further understanding and guidance in practising their faith, through access to the Sangha.
• Asoka dispatched emissaries and missionaries to various parts of the Indian subcontinent and beyond to spread the teachings of Buddhism. Notably, his son, Mahinda, played a key role in the spread of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, ‘inspiring new forms of religious expression’ (Theravada Buddhism). This missionary activity helped establish Buddhism in regions beyond the emperor's immediate domain, demonstrating how Asoka was an ‘agent of change’.
• Asoka convened the Third Buddhist Council in Pataliputra. While the primary purpose of this council was to address schisms within the Buddhist community, it also served as a platform for the consolidation and dissemination of Buddhist teachings. The council helped standardise and preserve the Tripitaka scriptures, contributing to the continuity and coherence of Buddhist doctrine and ‘enriching the faith’.
• Asoka erected approximately 80 000 stupas and monuments associated with important events in the life of the Buddha. These structures served as religious symbols and pilgrimage sites, ‘enriching the faith’ and fostering a sense of religious identity among Buddhists and enabling the tangible and lived expression of Buddhism in his context to this day. The most famous of these is the Sanchi Stupa in India, which stands as a testament to Asoka's commitment to Buddhism. As the stupas serve as shrines and landmarks of worship for the Buddha, Buddhists continue to be able to dynamically engage with the Three Jewels in their faith life.