Slide 1

Dissemination of BuddhismEast Asia

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During the third century B.C., Emperor Ashoka sent missionaries to the northwest of India that is, present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The mission achieved great success, as the region soon became a centre of Buddhist learning with many distinguished monks and scholars.

When the merchants of Central Asia came into this region for trade, they learnt about Buddhism and accepted it as their religion.

With the support of these merchants, many cave monasteries were established along the trade routes across Central Asia.

Bamiyan, Afghanistan

Rongbuk Monastery, Tibet

By the second century B.C., some Central Asian cities like Khotan, had already become important centers for Buddhism. The Chinese people had their first contact with Buddhism through the Central Asians who were already Buddhists.

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Buddhism in China

Who brought Buddhism to China?

Merchants and travelers using the Silk Road

When the Han Dynasty of China extended its power to Central Asia (specifically, Afghanistan and Pakistan) in the first century B.C., trade and cultural ties between China and Central Asia also increased.

We should take note that products were not the only things being circulated during business trades. Stories, culture, and religion were also being shared by traders, travelers and people.

How did Buddhism reach China?

Chinese scholars are in conflict about how Buddhism reached China

A plausible theory is that Buddhism started from the Greater Yuezhi of northwest India (present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan) and took the land roads to reach Han China.

After entering into China, Buddhism blended with early Daoism and Chinese traditional esoteric arts and its iconography received blind worship.

Entry of Buddhism in China according to a legend

A Legend!

One account of Buddhism's entry into China describes Han Emperor Ming's dream during the first century CE.

It is said that Buddha appeared to the emperor in a dream and that the very next day he ordered some his officials to travel west in an attempt to find what had caused his vision.

The officials west traveled along the Silk Road and eventually came upon two Buddhist monks with two white horses.

The monks carried with them a picture of Buddha and their horses were loaded with holy Buddhist scriptures.

The Chinese officials invited the monks to return with them to China's capital, Chang'an, to introduce Buddhism to the emperor.

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Related Stories

Translators

As interest in Buddhism grew, there was a great demand for Buddhist texts to be translated from Indian languages into Chinese.

This led to the arrival of translators from Central Asia and India.

One of them was

Anshigao

Who came from central asia

Another person, Chinese monk Dao-an translated Buddhist sutras into Chinese

5th Century Division of China

Southern China continued to translate Buddhist texts and to lecture and write. Rrulers were devoted Buddhists ;construction of numerous temples, participated in Buddhist ceremonies and organised public talks on Buddhism.

One of the rulers expanded on the earlier catalogue of Buddhist texts.

Buddhism flourished under the royal patronage of rulers who favored it.

By the latter half of the sixth century, monks were employed in government posts.

Buddhist arts also flourished, especially in the caves at Dun-huang, Yun-gang and Long-men.

Dun-Huang caves

Yungang Grottoes

Long-men caves

China and Buddhism today

Buddhism in Korea

We must first consider the history of Korea

The country was divided into three kingdoms with each kingdom having their own ruler.

Who brought Buddhism to Korea?

Monk Sundo sent by Fu Jian (Qin) to the court of King Sosurim, Goguryeo

Who brought Buddhism to Korea?

Indian Monk Maranata brought it to Baekje

Who brought Buddhism to Korea?

Monk Jajang brought it to Silla. He is also credited to the founding of Korean Sangha

How did Buddhism spread in Korea?

During the sixth and seventh centuries, many Korean monks went to China to study and brought back with them the teachings of the various Chinese schools of Buddhism.

Royal patronage of Buddhism helped in grow and spread in the three kingdoms of ancient Korea.

Related storiesAncient Koreans practiced Animism before Buddhism was introduced to them

Related storiesSet-backs in Buddhism during the Yi Seonggye of Joseon Dynasty when Confucianism was made the sole religion

Related storiesWith the collapse of the Yi Dynasty, Korea came under Japanese control. The Japanese who came to Korea introduced their own forms of Buddhism

Modern day Korea and Buddhism

Seoraksan Buddha statue, Korea

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Buddhism in Japan

Who brought it there?Korean delegates brought Buddhists relics to Japan as Ordered by king Seong of Baekje.

Five monks from Kipin, somewhere in Kabul region of Gandhara (northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan) travelled by ship to Fusang.

They propagated Buddhist doctrine.

How did Buddhism reach Japan?In the 6th century, the king Seong of Baekje, anxious to establish peaceful relations with Japan, sent gifts of images of the Buddha and copies of Buddhist texts to the Japanese imperial court.

How did Buddhism reach Japan?According to the Chinese historical treatise Liang Shu, which was written in 635, five monks from Gandhara traveled to Japan in 467.

Buddhism to the residents of the island nation.

How did Buddhism reach Japan?At the time, they referred to Japan (and others) as the country of Fusang

Chinese: Fus: The country of the extreme East" beyond the sea),

They propagated Buddhist doctrine, circulated scriptures and drawings, and advised the people to relinquish worldly attachments. As a result the customs of Japan changed

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Related stories

From King Seong of Baekje (ancient south Korea)The official story of the arrival of Buddhism to Japan states that a political delegation arrived from Korea in 538 C.E.

Among the gifts it brought for the Emperor were a bronze Buddha image, some sutras, a few religious objects and a letter warmly praising the most excellent Dharma.

After initial opposition, the gifts were accepted, and a temple was built to house the objects.

However, an epidemic which ravaged the land was interpreted as bringing the wrath of the indigenous kami (Japanese Shinto deities) down on the nation.

This led to the objects being thrown into a canal and the temple being destroyed.

Prince Shitoku a devout BuddhistFrom the very beginning, the establishment of Buddhism depended on the protection and support of the Japanese rulers.

Among these, Prince Shotoku deserves special mention for his great contribution to the early growth and expansion of Buddhism in Japan during the early part of the seventh century.

Tradition says that Prince Shotoku wrote the first "constitution" of Japan, which promoted moral and social values as taught in Buddhism.

His devotion and royal patronage of Buddhism helped to make it widely known.

Shitenn-ji Temple in OsakaHryji Templein Nara

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Buddhism in Japanese history Nara PeriodHeian PeriodKamakura Period

Nara PeriodBuddhism continued to spread as more new temples were built in all the provinces(ex. Todaiji Temple at Nara). Buddhist scriptures were copied and distributed throughout the country.

Also Chinese monks started to arrive and many Chinese schools of Buddhism were introduced to Japan.

Heian PeriodSaicho had a temple on Mount Hiei

The ruler patronized the temple

Sent Saicho to study in China. On his return to Japan, Saicho introduced the Tian-tai school of Buddhism from China.

Kukai returned from China and introduced Vajrayana Buddhism to Japan.

This school of Buddhism became very popular with the Japanese court.

Kukai himself was a learned monk and wrote a great deal on the teachings of this school.

Kamakura PeriodPolitical power shifted to a group of warriors (Samurai) who had their headquarters at Kamakura.

During this period, a number of distinctly Japanese Buddhist sects arose.

They became popular because of their simplicity and directness of approach.

Among these sects were the Jodo Shinshu, Nichiren and Zen.

Japan and Buddhism today

Buddhist institutions were used by the to control the country.

Buddhism influenced Japanese culture from arts and design, to ways of dealing with nature and others, and even in their music and visual art.

Buddhist temples, schools, and shrines were built to further advance the its growth.

Like other countries, Buddhists holidays. In Japan, the Buddhist Obon festival is celebrated primarily in communities with large Japanese diasporic communities.

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