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

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

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.

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.

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

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...

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.

Learn about the history of China: their beliefs, arts, philosophies, medicine, and political evolution.

A wonderful resource on Japan can be found here. It provides an in-depth study of the history of the country, their society and culture, education and arts, economy, relations with other nations, politics, national security, and much...

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

Read the fascinating story of the discover of a 1,000 year old mummy of a monk hidden inside a Buddha statue. Includes video.

When was the Buddha, or Enlightened One, born, and when? The recent discovery of the oldest known Buddist shrine tells archaelogists more than we've ever know.

A wonderful site that includes over 6000 photos taken by British officials and tourists. You can create your own picture album and send it to a friend. Clicking on "Places" will show you a map of where the photographers traveled.

Timeline outlines Buddhist history from the birth of the Buddha to the late twentieth century.

Some of the earliest depictions of the Buddha reaching enlightenment appear as sculptural friezes on the exterior of sacred Buddhist monuments known as stupas. View pictures of these friezes and read the history of Prince Siddhartha in...

A short history of China's famous early explorer and pilgrim who walked from central China to India and returned by sea to his homeland.

This unit from the extensive Asia for Educator's site provides audio, video and lecture materials from well-credentialed Asian studies professors to explore Japan's medieval period, from 1000-1500 A.D. Topics include the Samurai,...

Interactive presentation explains the many ways that the Buddha is represented in art. Discusses the symbolic nature of his appearance as well as the Buddha's characteristic hand gestures, or mudras.

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.

An online sourcebook of Indian history, this site from Fordham University offers links to websites & direct documents relating to specific periods of Indian history. Scroll through table of contents & choose area of interest!

Life of the Buddha told through a series of art objects. Accompanying essay clarifies episodes in the Buddha's life story.

Worship and power struggles, enlightenment and suicide-the 2300 caves and niches filled with Buddhist art at Longmen in China has witnessed it all.The steep limestone cliffs extend for almost a mile and contain approximately 110,000...

This statue depicts the bodhisattva Maitreya. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who postpone their own salvation in order to help all sentient beings. The bodhisattva is an ideal type, not a depiction of an historical person like the...

When completed in the 740s, Todai-ji (or "Great Eastern Temple") was the largest building project ever on Japanese soil. Its creation reflects the complex intermingling of Buddhism and politics in early Japan. View pictures and read...