How Was Buddhism Spread?

Buddhism began in northeastern India in the kingdoms of Magadha and Kosala. The followers of the Buddha began as a community of monks, nuns, and the accompanying laity in northern and central India. Buddhism spread from those beginnings through a combination of missionary work, trade routes, and royal patronage, evolving into a major religious force across Asia and beyond.

The spread of Buddhism was carried out by the efforts of missionaries and the support of influential rulers. After the Buddha’s death (c. 480 bce) his followers continued to propagate his teachings, with many becoming wandering ascetics who traveled extensively throughout the Indian subcontinent. A pivotal figure in the early spread of Buddhism was the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (reigned c. 3rd century bce), who, after converting to Buddhism, sent missionaries far and wide, including to Sri Lanka and possibly Southeast Asia. His reign marked a period of significant expansion for Buddhism as he promoted the religion through edicts and supported the establishment of monasteries. Missionaries also help spread the tradition into Southeast Asia, reaching all the way to Java by the 5th century ce.

Trade routes played a crucial role in the dissemination of Buddhism. The Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting the Asia with the Middle East and Europe, facilitated the movement of Buddhist monks and texts. This exchange of ideas and culture allowed Buddhism to reach Central Asia, including the region of Gandhara, in modern Pakistan, where in the early centuries of the first millennium ce Buddhism interacted with Hellenistic and Roman cultural and artistic influences. From Central Asia, Buddhism spread into Tibet, China, and eventually Korea and Japan. The interaction with different cultures along these routes led to the adaptation and integration of local customs and beliefs into Buddhist practices, enriching its diversity. By the 12th century, Buddhism had virtually disappeared from India, but it was thriving throughout much of the rest of Asia.

As Buddhism evolved, multiple branches developed, each with distinct emphases, philosophies, and practices. Theravada Buddhism, which is the oldest branch, is mainly practiced in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Mahayana Buddhism developed in India and by the 9th century had become the predominant form of Buddhism in Central and East Asia. Vajrayana Buddhism, a form of Tantric Buddhism, also developed in India in the first millennium and became most influential in Tibet and Mongolia, interacting with local tradition of Bon to become Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhists actively adapted the tradition to the cultural and religious contexts of the regions it reached. In China Buddhism was influenced by Taoism and Confucianism, leading to the development of distinct schools of Mahayana such as Chan (Zen) and Pure Land Buddhism, as well as local holidays such as the Hungry Ghost Festival.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, renewed interest in Buddhism among Europeans and Americans, particularly members of the Theosophical Society, encouraged its partial revival in India and Sri Lanka. Buddhism’s return to India was especially amplified by the conversion of Indian Independence leader B.R. Ambedkar, who influenced many of his fellow Dalits to adopt Buddhism. Buddhism also spread to Europe and the Americas through both the movement of diaspora communities from Asia and through the efforts of modern missionaries such as D.T. Suzuki, Alan Watts, and members of the Beat Generation in the United States. In the late 20th through the early 21st centuries, mindfulness meditation, a concept and practice deeply rooted in Buddhism, became increasingly popular in the United States.