Buddhism Timeline

Definition

Buddhism is a non-theistic religion (no belief in a creator god), also considered a philosophy and a moral discipline, originating in the region of modern-day India in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. It was founded by the sage Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha l. c. 563 - c. 483 BCE) who, according to legend, had been a Hindu prince.

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Timeline

c. 563 BCE - c. 483 BCE
Generally accepted dates of the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, by scholars.
c. 400 BCE
First Buddhist Council at Rajgir, Bihar, India; teachings and monastic discipline agreed to and codified.
383 BCE
Second Buddhist Council at which the Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika schools separate over differences in monastic discipline; the first schism in Buddhism.
c. 200 BCE - c. 600 CE
Construction of the 30 Buddhist cave-shrines at Ajanta, many of which display features of Gupta architecture.
c. 100 BCE
Buddhist sutras began to be written down in Pali.
c. 75 CE - c. 450 CE
Kushan rule in the Gandhara region, arguably the golden era of the Gandhara civilization in which art, architecture and the propagation of the Buddhist religion excelled.
148 CE
An Shigao is the first Buddhist translator mentioned in Chinese sources who established a translation centre in the Chinese imperial capital, Luoyang.
c. 200 CE
The Buddhist Lotus Sutra is written down in Pali language.
c. 200 CE - c. 400 CE
The Buddhist Nirvana Sutra is written down in Pali language.
c. 200 CE
Dhammapada is translated to Chinese and other Asian languages.
372 CE
A Confucian Academy is established in the Goguryeo kingdom of northern Korea and Buddism is adopted as the state religion.
384 CE
Buddhism is adopted as the state religion by the Baekje kingdom of western Korea.
c. 450 CE
Buddhist scholar Buddhaghosa writes his commentary on Dhammapada.
538 CE
Alternative date to 552 CE for the introduction of Buddhism to Japan from Korea.
552 CE
Traditional date for the introduction of Buddhism to Japan from Korea.
7 Feb 573 CE - 8 Apr 622 CE
Prince Shotoku was the founder of Japanese Buddhism and of the Japanese nation. He is famous for his 17-article constitution, the first Buddhist constitution ever to be created.
593 CE
The Shitennoji Buddhist temple is built in Japan.
596 CE
The Hokoji Buddhist temple is built in Japan.
607 CE
The Horyuji Buddhist temple is built in Nara, Japan during the reign of Regent Prince Shotoku.
617 CE - 686 CE
Life of the Korean Buddhist philosopher Wonhyo.
710 CE
The Buddhist Kofukuji temple is established at Nara, main temple of the Japanese Fujiwara clan.
751 CE - 790 CE
The Buddhist Bulguksa temple complex is built east of Gyeongju, Korea.
751 CE - 774 CE
The Buddhist cave temple at Seokguram (Sokkuram) east of Gyeongju, Korea is built.
752 CE
The Buddhist Todaiji temple is founded at Nara, Japan.
767 CE - 822 CE
Life of Saicho, founder of Tendai Buddhism in Japan.
771 CE
The large bronze bell at the Buddhist shrine at Bongdeoksa, Korea, also known as the Emille Bell, is cast.
774 CE - 835 CE
Life of the monk Kukai (aka Kobo Daishi), founder of Shingon Buddhism in Japan.
c. 793 CE - 864 CE
Life of Ennin, the Buddhist scholar-monk and abbot of Enryakuji, who brought many esoteric teachings from China to Japan.n
796 CE
The Buddhist To-ji temple near Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan is founded.
819 CE
Kukai (Kobo Daishi) establishes a monastery and headquarters for Shingon Buddhism on Mount Koya in Japan.
838 CE - 847 CE
Japanese Tendai Buddhist monk Ennin studies esoteric Buddhism in China.
842 CE - 845 CE
The Chinese state persecutes Buddhist monks and their monasteries.
849 CE
Ennin leads the first imperial-sponsored esoteric ritual at Enryakuji, Japan.
874 CE
The Buddhist Daigoji temple is founded by Shobo at Heiankyo (Kyoto).
1164 CE
The Buddhist Sanjusangendo temple is founded at Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan.
1855 CE
First Latin translation of the Dhammapada.

Buddhism

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