15 Timeline of Buddhism
Life of the Buddha and Early Communities, 5th century BCE to 1st century CE
- Teachings of the Buddha: Dharma
- sutras: sermons of the Buddha
- vinaya: monastic rules, ritual texts, and stories of Buddha
- abhidharma: doctrinal system, based on sutras
- Buddhist Communities: Sangha
Spread of Buddhism, 3rd century BCE to 7th century CE.
- Unification of India under King Ashoka and the spread of Buddhism
- Spread of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
- Buddhism in China, first century CE: “silk route” trade and Buddhist scriptures
- Buddhism in Japan, sixth century; and Tibet, eighth century
Reinterpreting Teachings of Buddhism: 100 BCE – 800 CE
- Mahāyāna Buddhism in East Asia
- Vajrayāna Buddhism in Tibet
Buddhism spreads to Western countries: 19th – 21st centuries
- Southeast Asian teachings of Mindfulness
- Zen Buddhism in America