Buddhism
430 BCE- 1800 CE
Haley Fica- Ms. Jolle
Sarah Dotson- Coach Floyd
Buddhist art also includes
swastikas.
Tibetan Art
Dharma Wheel in Architecture
Feet of Buddha
The Four Noble Truths
This map shows the spread
of Buddhism to 600 CE.
This is a statue
heard of King
Asoka of India.
This is a statue of the
Buddha that is located in
Nepal, where he was born.
These are modern day
Buddhist monks.
Below you will find
different Buddhist
symbols.
Buddhist Temple in India.
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Chronology
563 BCE: Siddhartha Guatama, Buddha, is born
528 BCE: Buddha’s enlightenment
543-479 BCE: 1st Buddhist Council gathers to recite all of Buddha’s teachings
483 BCE: Buddha dies
433-379 BCE: 2nd Buddhist Council gathers to discuss controversial points in Vinaya, Buddhist
teachings. Mahayana Buddhism begins to separate from original teachings.
399 BCE: Buddhism enters Korea
322-185 BCE: Buddhism enters North India
268 BCE: Emperor Ashoka builds rock pillars with the first written words of Buddhism
247 BCE: Buddhism enters Sri Lanka, 3rd Buddhist Council Meeting
200 BCE- 200 CE: Mahayana Buddhism begins to form
100’s BCE: Mahayana Buddhism establishes its own school
94 BCE: 4th Buddhist Council
1st century CE: Theravada Buddhism established in Thailand and Burma by monks from Sri
Lanka
538 CE: Buddhism enters Japan
641 CE: Buddhism enters Tibet
11-13th Centuries: Buddhism declines due to Islam
1196 CE: Invaders burn Buddhist manuscripts and study center at Nalanda, killing thousands of
monks.
1210-1526 CE: Attacks on Buddhist centers/ monasteries
1300 CE: Buddhism enters Thailand
1360 CE: Buddhism enters Laos
Pirates- Eurasia (Tibet)
Politics: Buddhism in Eurasia did not directly effect
politics.
Technology: Technology in Eurasia was not directly
effected by Buddhism.
Intellectual Innovations:Atisha-di-Pankhara presented the
Buddhist philosophy in a very clear and condensed
manner, which became the basis for philosophical
teachings in most Tibetan traditions.
Economy: In the 8th century AD, the first of many missionary
monks arrived, and the country's first monastery was
established in 787AD. During this time the population grew
from the missionaries, affecting their economy.
Religion: The successors of Songtsän Gampo were less
enthusiastic about the propagation of Buddhism but in the
8th century, King Trisong Detson(755-797) established it
as the official religion of the state. Tibetans specify two
criteria for being Buddhist - a) having taken refuge and b)
acceptance of the four marks of existence.
Society: The 33rd King of Tibet, Song Tsen Gampo (born
617) had the book translated and married two Buddhist
princesses. This is a sign that in Eurasian Buddhist
society, polygamy was okay.
Art and Architecture: An ordained spiritual community was
established in the first Buddhist monastery; Samye, which
was built by Padmasambhava. Many places of worship
were built around this time.
Pirates- India
Politics: Buddhism failed to adapt to changing social and
political circumstances, and apparently lacked a wide
base of support.
Technology: In India, the archaeological impact Buddhism
had on the people also helped them to become more
technologically advanced with their building.
Intellectual Innovations: With Buddhism came the four
truths that were knew ideas to the people. The first truth is
that life is imperfect and sorrowful, and misery permeates
all experience., The second truth is that the cause of
sorrow is desire, the emotional involvement with existence
that led from rebirth to rebirth through the operation of
karma.The third truth is that the sorrow can be ended by
eliminating desire.
The fourth truth sets forth the Eightfold Path leading to
elimination of desire, rebirth, and sorrow, and to the
attainment of nirvana or nibbana,a state of bliss and
selfless enlightnment.
Economy: The expansion in the scope and authority of
caste regulations shifted political and economic power to
the local arena, reversing the trend of centralization.
Brahmans came to regulate more and more aspects of
public life, and collected fees for the performance of their
rituals.Caste law, administered by Brahmans, was built up
to control all local economic production and much of its
distribution
Religion: Around third century BC, the still young Buddhist
religion began to spread across Southeast Asia and India.
Society: The caste system gradually expanded into
secular life as a regulative code of social and economic
transactions. Indian social structure developed in a
manner opposite to that of China or Rome, where
administration of law was dominated by government
officials. Instead, Brahmans became hereditary
monopolists of the law in a series of weak, ephemeral
states.
Arts and Architecture: For centuries Indian royalty and
merchants patronized Buddhist monasteries and raised
stone structures called stupas over the relics of the
Buddha in remembrance of his memory. Since the 1840s,
archaeology has revealed the huge impact of Buddhist art,
iconography, and architecture in India.
Pirates- East Asia
Politics: After the fall of the Han Dynasty in the early part of the
third century, China faced a period of political disunity. Despite
the war and unrest, the translation of Buddhist texts continued.
During this time, Buddhism gained popularity with the Chinese
people. Both foreign and Chinese monks were actively involved
in establishing monasteries and lecturing on the Buddhist
teachings.
Technology: Buddhism affected a lot of the archaelogy in East
Asia, and with this was an impact on technology.
Intellectual Innovations: As a result, a number of schools of
Buddhism arose, with each school concentrating on certain
texts for their study and practice. The Tian-tai School, for
instance, developed a system of teaching and practice based
on the Lotus Sutra. It also arranged all the Buddhist texts into
graded categories to suit the varying aptitudes of the followers.
Economy: Buddhism did not directly affect the economy in
Japan.
Religion: In the sixth century, the king of Packche, anxious to
establish peaceful relations with Japan, sent gifts of images of
the Buddha and copies of Buddhist texts to the Japanese
imperial court. Buddhism was recommended as a means of
bringing great benefit to the country. The Japanese people
soon accommodated Buddhism along with their indigenous
Shinto beliefs. Being a religion of universal appeal, Buddhism
helped to foster harmony within the country. When the
merchants of Central Asia came into this region for trade, they
learnt about Buddhism and accepted it as their religion.
Society: In northern China, except for two short periods of
persecution, Buddhism flourished under the lavish royal
patronage of rulers who favoured the religion. By the latter half
of the sixth century, monks were even employed in government
posts.
Art and Architecture: During this period, Buddhist arts
flourished, especially in the caves at Dun-huang, Yun-gang and
Long-men. In the thousand caves at Dun-huang, Buddhist
paintings covered the walls and there were thousands of
Buddha statues in these caves. At Yungang and Long-men,
many Buddha images of varying sizes were carved out of the
rocks. All these activities were a sign of the firm establishment
of Buddhism in China by the end of this period.
Pirates- Southeast Asia
Politics: Even when Cambodia came under French
colonial rule in the mid-nineteenth century, Buddhism was
still being patronised by the kings, though on a reduced
scale. After Cambodia had gained independence, some
progress was made in Buddhist education and the
publication of texts. Currently, however, owing to political
unrest, the future of Buddhism in Cambodia is uncertain.
Technology: Buddhism did not directly effect the
technology in Southeast Asia.
Intellectual Innovations: In every village, schools were set
up in the monasteries. Here monks taught the children
basic Buddhist teachings as well as reading and writing.
Economy: Buddhism did not directly effect the economy
in Southeast Asia.
Religion: It is said that late in the fifth century, a Buddhist
monk from India landed in a kingdom in central Java and
converted its queen to Buddhism. She in turn converted
her son and made Mahayana Buddhism the official
religion of the kingdom. In later centuries, Vajrayana
Buddhism was introduced to the people in northern
Burma. They practiced it together with Hinduism and local
folk beliefs. In the middle of the eleventh century, a
powerful king, Anawratha, brought northern and southern
Burma under his rule. As he was a strong supporter of
Theravada Buddhism he made it the national religion.
Society: The traditional structure of the Buddhist
community suffered when Burma came under British
colonial rule in the nineteenth century.
Arts and Architecture: Anawrathabegan the construction of
monasteries and stupas in the capital city of Pagan, and
this was continued by his successors. Pagan soon
developed into a centre of Buddhist culture.
Comparisons
• In both East and Southeast Asia, Buddhism contributed to the
addition of schools across Asia where children would learn about
Buddhist practices and other beliefs.
• A caste system was evident in India and East Asia, where some
social classes approved more of Buddhism than others.
• The nobles in Eurasia were more tentative to adopting the
Buddhist religion.
• Buddhism affected the artistic and architectural aspects of East
Asia, Southeast Asia, and India. In these places, temples were
built, adding to their architectural accomplishments.
• In India, unlike in the other regions of Buddhism, Buddhism
lacked support and failed to adapt to the changing social status.
• In India, the gradual expansion in the scope and authority of
caste regulations shifted political and economic power to the
local arena, reversing the trend of centralization, unlike in
Southeast Asia.
Change Over Time
• Buddhism eventually split into many different
types: including Mahayana and Theravada
Buddhism.
• Buddhism went from a major religion in India
to a minor religion because of Islam and
Hinduism, as well as the change of empire
rule.
• Buddhism also adopted the deities of
northwestern China.
• Buddhism also developed into different
branches based on the region. China
believed in the idea of soul, while India did
not.
Current Events
• In 1989, the Dalai Lama received the Noble
Peace Prize.
• Throughout 2008 in Tibet, a highly Buddhist
area, riots developed between Tibet and the
Chinese government.
• The Chinese government tried to make Tibet
wealthier by moving Chinese workers into the
area.
• Buddhism is also trying to regain followers
throughout China and India.
• It is trying to return to its previous state of
popularity throughout Asia.
Everyone’s Jobs
• Sarah: PIRATES Notes, Comparisons,
Pictures, Overall PowerPoint Presentation
• Haley: Chronology, Change Over Time,
Pictures, Overall PowerPoint Presentation,
Current Events
Bibliography
"Comparing Buddhism in China and India." HyperHistory.net. Web. 06 Oct. 2010.
http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw07indiabuddhismchina.htm
"Timeline of Buddhist History." View on Buddhism: (Tibetan) Buddhist Practice and
Philosophy. Web. 06 Oct. 2010. http://viewonbuddhism.org/time-line.html
"Bridging World History: Unit 7: The Spread of Religions: Unit Content Overview."
Teacher Professional Development and Teacher Resources by Annenberg Media.
Web. 06 Oct. 2010. http://www.learner.org/courses/worldhistory/unit_overview_7.html
Jacobs, By Andrew. "Tibet News - Breaking World Tibet News - The New York Times."
Times Topics. 05 Oct. 2010. Web. 06 Oct. 2010.
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/china/tibet/in
dex.html>.
Hodus, By Lewis. "Buddhism and Buddhists in China - IX. Present-Day Buddhism (by
Lewis Hodus)." Authorama - Public Domain Books. Web. 07 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.authorama.com/buddhism-and-buddhists-in-china-10.html>.