Buddhism’s Path Across Asia

Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha, was born in the small village of Lumbini around the middle of the sixth century B.C. Historians agree on this timeframe, though some place his birth slightly earlier.

First Teachings

At about thirty‑five years old, Gautama delivered his first teaching in Sarnath. In this seminal talk he explained the root of human suffering and outlined a path to its cessation—ideas that began spreading across India.

Early Expansion into China

• 1 st century A.D.: Two Indian monks traveled eastward and established a Buddhist monastery in Luoyang, situated on the Silk Road. This planted Buddhism’s first seed in Chinese soil.

Vajrayana and Mahayana Developments

• Later period: The new form Vajrayana emerged in northern India, blending with local beliefs and spreading into northern and eastern Asia, including Nepal.
• Simultaneously, the Mahayana branch grew in China, integrating Taoist and Confucian ideas.
• 8 th century: The great city of Chang’an became a hub for translating Buddhist texts into Chinese.

Theravada’s Southeast Asian Journey

• 13 th century: The style Theravada crossed from Sri Lanka into Southeast Asia, taking root especially in Thailand, where it remains the dominant form of Buddhism today.

Religious Shifts by the 14th Century

• Muslim armies entered India, and Hinduism re‑emerged strongly.
• These changes led to a decline of Buddhist practice in its birthplace region, even as Buddhism continued to thrive elsewhere across Asia.