Origin of Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama

566 BCE

"Siddhartha Gautama (Also known as the Buddha "the awakened one")" (Violatti). His teachings are considered the core of Buddhism and even after death, people still looked up to and give him credit for Buddhism. He founded Buddhism and reached his full enlightenment.

First Buddhist Council

400 BCE

After Buddha died, Mahakasyapa decided to convene a council of 500 arhats to help preserve the teachings of Buddha. The First Council took place at Rajgir, the capital of the Magadha kingdom (Religionfacts).

Second Buddhist Council

350 BCE

After the popularity of the first Council and the disputes arising after 100 years, the Second Council was convened. It's unclear exactly what happened, but it resulted in a direct split of the Buddhist community (Religionfacts).

Bhaja Caves

200 BCE

In Bhaja, one of the most important Buddhist centres of Hinayana faith in Maharashtra, were Buddhist cave dwellings. This was as Buddhism was spreading and more caves and art work kept popping up places (Maharashtra).

Buddhism spread to Vietnam

189 BCE

It twas said that Buddhism was spread by chinese refugees bringing it to Vietnam. "Buddhism spread first from China to Vietnams Red River Delta region in approximately the second cnetury A.D." (Vietnam Culture).

Buddhist texts translated to Chinese

347

Buddhism became widley known due to the translations into Chinese texts. Translators from central Asia and India helped cause an interest in Buddhism.

Mogao Caves

366

This cave was a secret on China's Silk Road and held about 50,000 Buddhist paintings and manuscripts. This was created by a Chinese Monk who had a vision. http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/0/24624407

Gyoki's influence

Mar 19, 704

Gyoki was born in 668 and was a Buddhist monk who helped Buddhism gain more influence in Japan. He quit his official job and decided to travel through provinces to preach Buddhism and help the poor (Heritage).

Bronze Buddha

Mar 19, 752

The Todai-ji was a giant statue of Buddha that measured 50 meters by 86 meters and took 9 years to build. It was commissioned by Emperor Shomu in 743 and used about 163,000 cubic feet of charcoal to produce it (MacDonald).
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/south-east-se-asia/japan-art/a/todai-ji

Seated figure of Bodhisattva

Jan 1, 1000

A Bodhisattva, being an enlightened thing who delayed entering paradise in order to help other people get enlightenment. This particular one is known as "Avalokitesvara", known to the chinese as Guanshiyin, which means "he who observes the sounds of the world". This figure is worshipped and seen as very holy in this religion (MIA).