Beginnings of Buddhism

Buddhism in China and Japan

© 2003 David Koeller.  All rights reserved.

Beginnings of Buddhism before 550 BC: The Hindu Background: India Chronology c. 563-483 BC: The Life and Teaching of Sidhartha Gautama, the Buddha: India Chronology c. 273-237 BC: The Reign of Asoka India Chonology c. 150 BC: The Buddhism Canon is reduced to writing 100BC-AD 100: Rise of Mahayana Buddhism Buddhism in China and Japan AD 25: Buddhism introduced to China: Later Han Dynasty 399-414: Fa-hsien travels to India 476-542: T'an-luan is first master of the Pure Land School 538-597: Chih-i organizes the T-ien-t'ai School 574-622: Prince Shotuku, the "founder" of Buddhism in Japan c. 675: Development of Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism 868: The oldest printed book in the world: a Chinese translation of the Diamond-Cutter Sutra 1200: Zen Buddhism (Ch'an) introduced to Japan. Japan Chronology .

Resources Primary Sources Two Buddhist Texts Asoka: Rock and Pillar Edicts Secondary Sources

Text copyright 1998 by David W. Koeller. All rights reserved.