Timeline of Buddhism By elimbroc 1056 Burma converts to Theravada 1100 Song Dynasty outlaws Buddhism in China 1181 Cambodia becomes Mahayana 1187 Rinzai Zen School founded in Japan 1197 Nalanda University Destroyed; End of Buddhism in India 1227 Sōtō Zen School founded in Japan 1238 Theravada becomes religion of Thailand 1253 Nichiren School founded in Japan 1271 Yuan Dynasty converts Mongols to Vajrayana buddhism 1295 Mongolia converts to Islam 1415 First Dalai Lama in Tibet 1578 Altan Khan bestows title Dalai Lama