Timeline for development and spread of Buddhism

	Birth of the Buddha Birth of the Buddha, c. 566 BCE in Lumbini in modern-day Nepal China Buddhists celebrate the Buddha’s birthday on the 8th of the 4th month in the lunar calendar.
	Death of the Buddha Death of the Buddha, c. 486 BCE in modern-day Kushinagar, India
	Asoka Buddhism flourishes in India under King Asoka, c. 272-231 BCE
	Third Council at Patna Third Council of Buddhist Monks at Patna, India c. 250 BCE
	Bijar First carving of monumental shrines at Bijar, India c. 272-231 BCE
	Bactria Buddhist settlement at Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan), 0-100 CE
	Gandhara Mahayana schools develop at Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan), 0 – 100 CE
	White Horse Temple White Horse temple at Luoyang (in modern-day Henan province, China), c. 68 CE
	Master An Shi Gao An Shi Gao translates scriptures to Chinese in Luoyang (modern-day Henan province, Chinese), 148 CE
	Giaur Kala (Merv) Buddhist shrines at Giaur Kala (Merv or modern-day Mary in Turkmenistan), 200s CE
	Bamiyan c. 300s CE, 53 meter Buddha carved in Bamiyan cliffs, Afghanistan
	Buddhist art found in Kabul Valley Buddhist art found in Kabul Valley, Afghanistan, 300s CE
	Kumarajiva Kumarajiva at text translation bureau, Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an, China), 344 – 413 CE
	Mogao Caves Mogao Caves begun by monks at Dunhuang (modern-day Gansu, China), 366 CE
	Korea Buddhism transmitted to Korea, 400s CE
	Kizil Caves Buddhist caves established at Kizil (modern-day Kucha, Xinjiang Province, China), 450 – 750 CE
	Longmen Caves Longmen cave artwork begun at Luoyang, 494 CE
	Bodhidharma Persian monk Bodhidharma, first patriarch of the Chan school (modern-day Mount Song, Henan Province, China), 500s CE
	Processions in Luoyang Buddha’s birthday image processions in Luoyang, 503 – 528 CE
	Japan Buddhism migrates from China and Korea to Japan, 600s CE
	Xuan Zang Chinese monk Xuan Zang’s journey to India, c. 629 CE
	Tibet Buddhism in Tibet takes on local traditions, 800 – 1300 CE
	Marco Polo Marco Polo introduces Buddhism to Europe (Venice), 1254-1324 CE
	San Francisco Immigrants bring Buddhism to San Francisco, North America, 1899 CE
	Master Hsing Yun Master Hsing Yun establishes Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan, 1967 CE
	Hsi Lai Temple, Los Angeles Hsi Lai Temple founded near Los Angeles, 1988 CE
	Central and South America Fo Guang Shan temples begin in Central and South America, 1992 CE
	Buddhist outreach to Five Continents By 2000 CE, Fo Guang Shan expands outreach to Five Continents
	Tooth relic shrine in Taiwan Fo Guang Shan’s tooth relic shrine completed, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2011 CE

Pictures by Nancy Cowardin 2013

Timeline of Luoyang as China’s Capital
Luoyang is one of China’s ancient capitals.

Luoyang is the location of the first Buddhist temple in China, the White Horse Temple. The Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) used Luoyang as its capital from 495 to 534. Luoyang is known for its peony flowers.
Buddhist Festivals
Image Processions
Image processions were a meeting point including the people in the procession, music from Kucha, and devotional societies.

Buddhist Literature Timeline

Compiled by Venerable Jue Wei of Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple