This resource presents explanations of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.

Over the centuries, two main branches of Buddhism emerged: a transmission that traveled to Southeast Asia, and a transmission that evolved in East Asia. A further offshoot of the northern transmission also developed. All three branches:...

Over the centuries, two main branches of Buddhism emerged: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Read a description of each of these forms of Buddhism.

Buddhism is one of the world's great religions, and has deeply influenced the character and evolution of Asian civilization over the past 2,500 years. It is based on the teachings of a historical figure, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived...

Buddhism was officially transmitted to Japan in 525, when the monarch of the Korean kingdom of Baekje sent a mission to Japan with gifts, including an image of the Buddha, several ritual objects, and sacred texts. Buddhism's journey from...

Buddhism originated in what is today modern India, where it grew into an organized religion practiced by monks, nuns, and lay people. Read a brief history of this religion in this article.

Buddhism would revolutionize many aspects of Japanese life including music, dance, a new writing system, and above all, elaborate Buddhist art. View a picture of a Buddhist sculpture and read a brief history of Buddhism in Japan.

Find out about different kinds of art inspired by Buddhism. Richly illustrated, with useful overviews of the origins of Buddhism, Buddhist sects, and similar aspects of the religion.

A detailed history of Buddhism in Laos. Provides information on important people and dates as well as doctrines.

A history of Buddhism in Japan. Briefly describes other schools of Buddhism but is primarily concerned with Zen.

Buddhanet offers a timeline of the history of Tibetan Buddhism beginning around 200 C.E. and continuing to the present.

An extensive resource detailing the birth and spread of Buddhism throughout India. References China specifically, including the "blossoming of schools" during the Sui Dynasty.

University-level introduction to Buddhism. Includes a biography of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), a general history of Buddhism, and a look at many Buddhist teachings, meditations, songs, poems, and more.

A Buddhanet page with links to information on the different countries where the practice of Mahayana Buddhism is practices, namely Tibet, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Japan, and Indonesia.

Buddhanet page with links to information on the different countries in which the practice of Theravada (Hinayana) Buddhism predominates.

Information about the celebrations, sacred spaces, basic beliefs of Buddhism. Answers questions such as How did Buddhism begin? What did the Buddha teach? What are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path?

Lesson plan that combines the study of Buddhism in Bhutan with local ecology by focusing on cultural and religious attitudes toward the natural environment. Part of the PBS website devoted to Bhutan.

Buddhism was introduced into Tibet from India and China beginning in the 600s. Over the succeeding centuries, Buddhism became the dominant cultural form in Tibet, exerting a powerful influence not only over religion, but also over...

Buddhism became the official religion of one of Korea's early kingdoms in 372, after a priest arrived from China with Buddhist images and scriptures. From the time of its introduction it had the enthusiastic support of the rulers and the...

Wikipedia article about Buddhism addresses the essential questions about the religion and its traditions.

This site contains detailed information about the religion of Buddhism and its many components.

Read a detailed history of Cambodian Buddhism. Learn about the destruction of Buddhism by the communist rulers in the 1970s and the rebuilding that is still under way.

Answers to frequently asked questions about Buddhism.

Tidy summation of the principle beliefs and understandings of Buddhism: core concepts, aggregates, fetters, and boundless states.