Buddism

By Paisley2000
  • 380 BCE

    Teaching of Buddhism began

    Life of Shakyamuni Buddha, based on whose teachings Buddhism developed.
  • 269 BCE

    First Buddhists travels to Sri Lanka in the third century.

    Reign of King Ashoka, patron of Buddhism; sends first Buddhists to Sri Lanka in the third century.
  • 100 BCE

    Rise of Mahayana Buddhism

  • 1 CE

    Buddhism first enters China

  • 78

    Reign of King Kanishka

    Mahayana Buddhism spreads to Central Asia.
  • 520

    First Zen patriarch Bodhidharma arrives in China.

  • 538

    Buddhism enters Japan from Korea

  • Period: 601 to 700

    Vajrayana Buddhism established in Tibet.

  • Period: 1001 to 1301

    Theravada Buddhism established in Southeast Asia.

  • 1199

    Nalanda University destroyed; demise of Buddhism in India.

  • 1201

    Zen, Pure Land, and Nichiren Buddhism established in Japan.

  • Pali Text Society founded.

  • World Parliament of Religions (Chicago).

  • Celebration of 2,500 years of Buddhism.