Factors of spread of Buddhism-

1. Encouragement of missionary work

2. intimate relationship between merchants and Buddhists
3. Role of Rulers and Polities

NATURE OF TRANSMISSION

 more complex and non-linear

 examples of complexities
 About missionary activity- never organized outside South Asia
 not a systematic process

#Time period of spread

> Turning point 1= 5th-6th cen CE

>Turning point 2 = 10th cen CE

3 Phases-

from start to 5th-6th cen CE

5th-6th cen CE to 10th cen CE

10th cen CE onwards

PHASE 1

About Buddha- Context

Death of Buddha- EARLY SPREAD THROUGH RELIC CULT

distribution of remains after death

redistribution under Asoka- 3rd century BCE--Most imp- spread to SRI LANKA

Simultaneously by 3rd cen BCE- intimate r'ship between monastic com and trading networks in South
Asia-- monastries located @ urban centres along these trade networks

Post Asoka- under Satavahanas (Deccan) and Kusanas (North)--> spread outside South Asia

> During Satavahanas-

1. patronage in Deccan Region

2. relationship between Buddhism and trading communities, merchant guilds engaged in overseas
commerce etc.

> During Kushanas-

1. Expansion of empire from Central Asia to Gangetic valley- trade routes became integrated

2. Central Asian merchants also expanded their trading networks to Southeast and East Asia +
introduced Buddhism to Han China

3. State donations

By the time it reached Han China, many doctrinal changes- emergence of MAHAYANA.

>MAHAYANA- popular in Central Asia, China, Japan, Korea

>THERAVADA- Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand

---However, no one exclusive form anywhere- i.e. multiple forms existed + incorporation of local
beliefs

Route of Buddhism to Han China- Debate-- >long accepted view- Buddhism spread through overland
route staged from Central Asian oasis states

>Question mark- Erik Zurcher- Spread to China- by 2nd cen CE v/s Central Asian evidence- 4th cen CE

Irrespective of debate, evident= Some presence of Buddhism in Han China around 65 CE (Chinese
legend- dream of Han Emperor)

BUDDHISM IN CHINA---

1. Role of translation in establishment of Buddhist doctrine in China

> by 6th cen- more than 2000 texts translated- several genres

> Method of translation- more than 4 people- till 10th cen

2. Chinese monks travelling to South Asia starting 4th cen

Thus, Buddhist exchanges between China and South Asia well established by 6th cen

PHASE-2

Btw 5th-10th cen CE, spread to-

1. Japan and Korea (no prior encounter)

2. Southeast Asia maritime polities (marginal prior contact)

2 factors-

1. networks of exchange between South Asia and China--augmented role of Central and South-East
Asia in flow of monks and merchants-- by 7th century also integrated Korea and Japan

2. Localization of Buddhism- local schools and tradition-- created multiple centres ---> Pan Asiatic
religion

Developments with impact on cross regional Buddhist exchanges after 5th cen CE-

1. est of Nalanda- attracted students from across Asia, sent monks, received donations

2. New dynasties and polities everywhere- employed Buddhism for legitimization (7th century= Tang
Dynasty in China, the empire of Harṣa in what is present-day northern India, the Tibetan empire, the
Silla polity in Korea, and the Śrīvijayan thalassocracy in Southeast Asia)

3. Intensification of long distance commerce

WITHIN CHINA (between Han and Sui dynasties)

1. Liang Dynasty- Emperor Wu

>propagated doctrines

>established connections with Buddhist centres

> transmit doctrine to Korea

> 82 people delegation to bring Buddha image from Central India

> envoys to Funan to fetch relics

simultaneously- maritime regions of Southeast Asia- intense encounter with Buddhism via long
distance mercantile trad

2. Northern Wei dynasty

> construction of temples, cave complexes etc.

> created demand for artists familiar with Buddhist style

REGIONS ENROUTE-

Impact of Chinese growth on regions of Central and South East Asia---increased Buddhist traffic---
regions in between also came in contact

e.g.- Kocho polity in present day Xinjiang Autonomous region- Buddhism flourished

Mainland Southeast Asia- entry of Buddhism before 4th cen <---evidences

Earliest evidence in Maritime regions--

1. from Kedah- 5th cen Sanskrit inscription + several Buddhist statues and sculptures
2. 2. from east coast of Malay peninsula- statues, votive tablets, stupas etc

Context of above evidences-

decline of Funan in Cambodia- Vietnam region and rise of new polities---opted Buddhism for
legitimization.

>some inspiration also from same practice in China at that time

Further stimulation- Srivijayan polity (7th cen)

KOREA AND JAPAN

buddhism to legitimize political power >> closely associated with connections to China

Korea- 3 kingdom period

1. Koguryo (from China)

2. Paekche (from China)

3. Silla (from Koguryo monks)

Japan- from Buddhisht teachers from Paekche

Evidences of interconnections between Buddhist communities of East Asia in 6th-7th centuries

China-Korea

Korea-India and Korea-Japan

Spread of Buddhism (6th-7th century) in turn accelerated cross cultural Buddhist exchanges during
7th-8th cen + impacts= MULTIPLE CENTRES OF bUDDHISM

Travels-

travels of Xuanzang

travels of Yijing***

travels of Hyech'o

TANTRIC BUDDHISM-

late 7th-late 8th century-- spread of Tantric Buddhism to all parts of Buddhist realm

developments under Tantric Buddhism-

 1. Indian masters in China- Subhakarasimha, Vajrabodhi, Amoghavajra

Chinese disciple- Huigo

2. Chinese master- Huiguo

Japanese disciple- Kukai

3. Chinese Master- Huiguo

Java disciple- Bianhong

4. Evidences of Tantric Buddhism in Sri Lanka

5. Cult of Manjusri in China

SPREAD TO TIBET

under king Songtsen Gampo- SPREAD

Spread of Buddhism in tibet in 8th century- indicative of existence of multiple centres of Buddhism

Several monks of different schools active in active-- after a great debate, it was decided that
Madhyamika school will be followed in Tibet

Under Tri- Buddhist exchanges grew considerably, sent diplomatic missions and was interested in
Indian and Chinese Pilgrimage sites

Under Rajpalen- translation academies

Under Langdarma (838 CE)- persecution and supression

From 11th century- revival of Buddhist ecxchanges between Tibet and other centres

PHASE 3

3 distinct worlds-

India-Tibet

East Asian
Sri Lanka-Southeast Asia

>> However--contacts persisted

TRAVELS OF YIJING

7TH Century= watershed-

1. brisk movement of pilgrims, missionaries, translators, artisans

2. emergence of multiple centres of Buddhist learning--led to doctrinal fragmentation of Buddhist

cosmopolis- 3 circuits

Both Developments- discerned by Yijing's works