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Spread of Buddhism in Central Asia

Type Event Region Central Asia Time 1–400

From the 1st to 4th centuries CE, Buddhism spread widely across Central Asia from northern India through polities such as the Kushan Empire.…

Timeline

  1. 1–100Gandhara and Bactria · GandharaBuddhism spread from northwestern India into Central Asia; monastic communities built temples in places like Gandhara, initially blending with local Hellenistic artistic traditions to form a distinctive religious artistic style.
  2. 100–250Territory of the Kushan Empire · KushanKushan rulers such as Kanishka vigorously supported Buddhism, convening councils and funding the construction of stupas and statues, making Buddhism one of the mainstream religions in Central Asia and promoting the compilation and dissemination of Mahayana scriptures.
  3. 200–400Samarkand and Kucha · Central AsiaMahayana Buddhism spread further in Central Asia and entered China through monastic communities of the Western Regions and trade routes, with Central Asia becoming a key relay hub connecting Indian and Chinese Buddhism.

Sources