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Spread Map

Buddhism Spread Map

Where and when Buddhism spread, arrived, was established, declined or was revived, in the places and years the historical record gives.

Map

Buddhism Spread Map Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guam Guatemala Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Laos Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Buddhism Arises in the Ganges Plain, India, 500 BCE to 400 BCE, ArrivedBuddhism Reaches Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, 247 BCE, EstablishedBuddhism Reaches China, China, 50 to 150, ArrivedBuddhism Reaches Central Asia, Central Asia, 100 to 250, EstablishedBuddhism Reaches Vietnam, Vietnam, 168 to 189, ArrivedBuddhism Reaches Korea, Korea, 372, ArrivedBuddhism Reaches Japan, Japan, 538, ArrivedBuddhism Reaches Tibet, Tibet, 630 to 791, EstablishedLangdarma's Reign Ends Imperial Patronage of Buddhism in Tibet, Tibet, 841 to 842, SuppressedAtisha's Arrival Opens Tibet's Second Diffusion, Tibet, 1042 to 1045, RevivedTheravada Buddhism Consolidates in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia, 1044 to 1300, DominantBuddhism Nearly Disappears From India, India, 1193 to 1300, ExtinctThe Mongol Empire Adopts Buddhism Under Sakya Patronage, Mongolia, 1260 to 1271, EstablishedBuddhism Becomes Dominant in Mongolia Through the Second Conversion, Mongolia, 1578 to 1937, DominantThe Kalmyks Migrate to the Volga Steppe and Establish Buddhism in Europe, Russia, 1630, ArrivedEmpress Elizabeth's Decree Recognizes Buddhism Among the Buryats, Russia, 1741, EstablishedBuddhism Reaches the United States, United States, 1853 to 1893, ArrivedThe Meiji Restoration's Haibutsu Kishaku Suppresses Buddhism In Japan, Japan, 1868 to 1874, SuppressedOlcott and Dharmapala Revive Buddhism in Sri Lanka Under Colonial Rule, Sri Lanka, 1880 to 1891, RevivedStalinist Purges Destroy Buddhism in Mongolia, Mongolia, 1937 to 1939, ExtinctBuddhism Is Revived Among Dalits in India, India, 1956 to 1961, RevivedThe Cultural Revolution Suppresses Buddhism in Tibet and China, Tibet, 1966 to 1976, SuppressedBuddhism Is Revived in China After Economic Reform, China, 1980, RevivedBuddhism Is Revived in Mongolia After Communism, Mongolia, 1990, RevivedMyanmar's Military Junta Suppresses the Saffron Revolution's Monk-Led Protests, Myanmar, 2007, Suppressed

Point at, tap, or move keyboard focus to a marker for its event, place, year and status.

Marker size and shape show how established the tradition was there: a small filled dot for an arrival, a larger one for an established or dominant presence, and a hollow, distinct marker where it was suppressed or nearly disappeared, never simply absent.

Spoken Chronology

Buddhism Arises in the Ganges Plain. India, 500 BCE to 400 BCE, Arrived. Source, History of Indian Buddhism: From the Origins to the Saka Era.

Buddhism Reaches Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, 247 BCE, Established. Source, History of Indian Buddhism: From the Origins to the Saka Era.

Buddhism Reaches China. China, 50 to 150, Arrived. Source, The Buddhist Conquest of China: The Spread and Adaptation of Buddhism in Early Medieval China.

Buddhism Reaches Central Asia. Central Asia, 100 to 250, Established. Source, Buddhism in Central Asia (Wikipedia).

Buddhism Reaches Vietnam. Vietnam, 168 to 189, Arrived. Source, Buddhism in Vietnam (Wikipedia).

Buddhism Reaches Korea. Korea, 372, Arrived. Source, Korean Buddhism (Wikipedia).

Buddhism Reaches Japan. Japan, 538, Arrived. Source, Buddhism in Japan (Wikipedia).

Buddhism Reaches Tibet. Tibet, 630 to 791, Established. Source, Tibet: A History.

Langdarma's Reign Ends Imperial Patronage of Buddhism in Tibet. Tibet, 841 to 842, Suppressed. Source, Langdarma (Wikipedia).

Atisha's Arrival Opens Tibet's Second Diffusion. Tibet, 1042 to 1045, Revived. Source, Atisha (Wikipedia).

Theravada Buddhism Consolidates in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia, 1044 to 1300, Dominant. Source, Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo.

Buddhism Nearly Disappears From India. India, 1193 to 1300, Extinct. Source, Nalanda Mahavihara (Wikipedia).

The Mongol Empire Adopts Buddhism Under Sakya Patronage. Mongolia, 1260 to 1271, Established. Source, Buddhism in Mongolia (Wikipedia).

Buddhism Becomes Dominant in Mongolia Through the Second Conversion. Mongolia, 1578 to 1937, Dominant. Source, Buddhism in Mongolia (Wikipedia).

The Kalmyks Migrate to the Volga Steppe and Establish Buddhism in Europe. Russia, 1630, Arrived. Source, Kalmyk Khanate (Wikipedia).

Empress Elizabeth's Decree Recognizes Buddhism Among the Buryats. Russia, 1741, Established. Source, Buddhism in Russia.

Buddhism Reaches the United States. United States, 1853 to 1893, Arrived. Source, Buddhism in the United States (Wikipedia).

The Meiji Restoration's Haibutsu Kishaku Suppresses Buddhism In Japan. Japan, 1868 to 1874, Suppressed. Source, Haibutsu Kishaku (Wikipedia).

Olcott and Dharmapala Revive Buddhism in Sri Lanka Under Colonial Rule. Sri Lanka, 1880 to 1891, Revived. Source, Henry Steel Olcott (Wikipedia).

Stalinist Purges Destroy Buddhism in Mongolia. Mongolia, 1937 to 1939, Extinct. Source, Stalinist Repressions in Mongolia (Wikipedia).

This spoken summary covers the first 20 of 25 recorded events, in date order. The remaining 5 events and full source detail for every event are in the Full Chronology list below.

Full Chronology

Every recorded spread event for this tradition, in date order, complete: 25 events.

  1. Buddhism Arises in the Ganges PlainIndia, 500 BCE to 400 BCE, Arrived
    Source History of Indian Buddhism: From the Origins to the Saka EraEtienne Lamotte, translated by Sara Webb-Boin
  2. Buddhism Reaches Sri LankaSri Lanka, 247 BCE, Established
    Source History of Indian Buddhism: From the Origins to the Saka EraEtienne Lamotte, translated by Sara Webb-Boin
  3. Buddhism Reaches ChinaChina, 50 to 150, Arrived
    Source The Buddhist Conquest of China: The Spread and Adaptation of Buddhism in Early Medieval ChinaErik Zurcher
  4. Buddhism Reaches Central AsiaCentral Asia, 100 to 250, Established
    Source Buddhism in Central Asia (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  5. Buddhism Reaches VietnamVietnam, 168 to 189, Arrived
    Source Buddhism in Vietnam (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  6. Buddhism Reaches KoreaKorea, 372, Arrived
    Source Korean Buddhism (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  7. Buddhism Reaches JapanJapan, 538, Arrived
    Source Buddhism in Japan (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  8. Buddhism Reaches TibetTibet, 630 to 791, Established
    Source Tibet: A HistorySam van Schaik
  9. Langdarma's Reign Ends Imperial Patronage of Buddhism in TibetTibet, 841 to 842, Suppressed
    Source Langdarma (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  10. Atisha's Arrival Opens Tibet's Second DiffusionTibet, 1042 to 1045, Revived
    Source Atisha (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  11. Theravada Buddhism Consolidates in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia, 1044 to 1300, Dominant
    Source Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern ColomboRichard Gombrich
  12. Buddhism Nearly Disappears From IndiaIndia, 1193 to 1300, Extinct
    Source Nalanda Mahavihara (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  13. The Mongol Empire Adopts Buddhism Under Sakya PatronageMongolia, 1260 to 1271, Established
    Source Buddhism in Mongolia (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  14. Buddhism Becomes Dominant in Mongolia Through the Second ConversionMongolia, 1578 to 1937, Dominant
    Source Buddhism in Mongolia (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  15. The Kalmyks Migrate to the Volga Steppe and Establish Buddhism in EuropeRussia, 1630, Arrived
    Source Kalmyk Khanate (Wikipedia)
  16. Empress Elizabeth's Decree Recognizes Buddhism Among the BuryatsRussia, 1741, Established
    Source Buddhism in Russia
  17. Buddhism Reaches the United StatesUnited States, 1853 to 1893, Arrived
    Source Buddhism in the United States (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  18. The Meiji Restoration's Haibutsu Kishaku Suppresses Buddhism In JapanJapan, 1868 to 1874, Suppressed
    Source Haibutsu Kishaku (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  19. Olcott and Dharmapala Revive Buddhism in Sri Lanka Under Colonial RuleSri Lanka, 1880 to 1891, Revived
    Source Henry Steel Olcott (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  20. Stalinist Purges Destroy Buddhism in MongoliaMongolia, 1937 to 1939, Extinct
    Source Stalinist Repressions in Mongolia (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  21. Buddhism Is Revived Among Dalits in IndiaIndia, 1956 to 1961, Revived
    Source Dhammachakra Pravartan Din (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  22. The Cultural Revolution Suppresses Buddhism in Tibet and ChinaTibet, 1966 to 1976, Suppressed
    Source Cultural Revolution in Tibet (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  23. Buddhism Is Revived in China After Economic ReformChina, 1980, Revived
    Source Buddhism in China (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  24. Buddhism Is Revived in Mongolia After CommunismMongolia, 1990, Revived
    Source Buddhism in Mongolia (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  25. Myanmar's Military Junta Suppresses the Saffron Revolution's Monk-Led ProtestsMyanmar, 2007, Suppressed
    Source Saffron Revolution (Wikipedia)