• The
Origins of
Buddhism [Asia Society]
"A short essay that explores how Buddhism grew out of Hinduism and spread from India to the rest of Asia. How does Buddhism vary from place to place, sect to sect? Learn about how the spread of ideas combine of new beliefs with existing thoughts and practices."
• Introduction
to Buddhism [PDF] [SPICE
Digest, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford
University]
A brief overview of the origins and basic tenets of Buddhism.
• The Travel Records of Chinese Pilgrims Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing: Sources for Cross-cultural Encounters between Ancient China and Ancient India [Education
About Asia, Association for Asian Studies]
Article about three Chinese monks who traveled to India: Faxian (337?-422?), Xuanzang
(600?-664), and Yijing (635-713). With maps.
Interactive Map • The Spread of Buddhism [Pacific Asia Museum]
To access the map from the main page of this Flash website, select any of the four topics, then select 'Timeline & Map' from the menubar at the bottom of the page. A timeline-map of the Buddha's life will appear first. Select 'Spread of Buddhism' at the bottom-right to get to the interactive timeline-map showing the spread of Buddhism. There is also a PDF version of the map available on the HTML version of the website.
• Buddhism on the Silk Road [International Dunhuang Project]
"The civilizations which flourished along the Silk Road in the first millennium CE were open to cultural and religious influences from both East and West. Many religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, gained new followers. But it was Buddhism, travelling the trade routes of the Silk Road, which became the common factor uniting the different peoples of the Silk Road." See especially the section on Chinese Buddhism. Also see the IDP website's Education section for more units about the Silk Road.
• Buddhism [A Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization, University of Washington]
"This unit offers evidence of how Buddhism changed China's visual culture, showing the evolution of images of deities, plus views of temples and people practicing Buddhism." A Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization was prepared by University of Washington history professor Patricia Buckley Ebrey. With questions for discussion, timelines, maps, and suggested readings. Select HOME to find link to teachers' guides for all topics featured on the website.
• LIving
in the Chinese Cosmos >> Buddhism: The "Imported" Tradition [Asia
for Educators]
Although the focus of this teaching module is late-imperial China, this section on
Buddhism offers a general overview
of Buddhism, its origins in India, and the history of Buddhism in China.
Lesson Plan • Pure
Land Buddhism in China and Japan [Asian Odyssey,
Cleveland Museum of Art]
"Over its long history, Buddhism has adapted itself to fit into the constantly
changing religious, cultural, political, and economic climates of China and Japan.
One such adaptation was the spin-off of various sects from the mainstream of Buddhism
to meet various needs at particular times. One successful example is the Pure Land sect,
which this lesson will examine in depth."
AFE Special Topic Guide • Buddhism [OMuRAA, Asia for Educators]
AFE's compilation of recommended resources about Buddhism on OMuRAA, Online Museum Resources on Asian Art.
Lotus Sutra,
composed after 483 BCE
Primary Source w/DBQs • Selection from the Lotus Sutra: "The Daughter of the Dragon King" [PDF] [Asia for Educators]
The Lotus Sutra, a text of the Mahayana School of Buddhism, was composed well after the death of the historical Buddha (ca. 483 BCE) and written down in Sanskrit even later. The scripture was translated into Chinese in several different versions, the most respected being the translation carried out under the direction of the monk Kumarajiva in 406 CE. This passage is notable for addressing the question of the salvation of women.
Primary Source w/DBQs • Selection from the Lotus Sutra: "The Buddha Preaches the One Great Vehicle" [PDF] [Asia for Educators]
The Lotus Sutra, a text of the Mahayana School of Buddhism, was composed well after the death of the historical Buddha (ca. 483 BCE) and written down in Sanskrit even later. The scripture was translated into Chinese in several different versions, the most respected being the translation carried out under the direction of the monk Kumarajiva in 406 CE. This passage addresses the question of the multitude — of why there are so many schools of Buddhism.
Mouzi, latter years of the Eastern Han (ca. 220 CE)
Primary Source w/DBQs • Selections from Mouzi's Disposing of Error (Lihuo Lun) [PDF] [Asia for Educators]
Lihuo Lun is a defense of Buddhism possibly composed by Mouzi, a Confucian scholar and official of the Eastern Han.
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