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Siddartha Gautama or "Buddha" was born 563 B.C. in Lumbini near the Himalayan Mountains.
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Buddhism was founded by Siddartha Gautama in the late 6th century in India along the Ganges River.Gautama, son of a king and queen lived a tranquil life, but because of the peaceful life he saw many forms of human suffering.He began his teachings of the Four Noble Truths which talks about suffering existing in every being and in order to end it, they must follow a righteous way of living known as the Noble Eightfold Path.
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With the opening of the Silk Road in 2nd century B.C, it has allowed missionaries and merchants to travel through here.Among the missionaries many were Buddhists and it has allowed them to trade and also spread the religion which allowed a greater spread of the religion in the 1st century AD. The Silk Road was a major factor in the spread of Buddhism that would soon spread across through East Asia.
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After the death of Buddha, monk disciples began the spreading of his teachings throughout India.It would soon spread throughout Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.This took time through 200 - 400 B.C.E.India holds the origin of Buddhism and is the center of the spread of Buddhism.
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Buddha passes away in 405 BCE.
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The same time round Buddha's death the first Buddhist Council occured in 405 BCE
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The first Buddhist temple in China called the White Horse Temple is eastablished in 68 AD under Emperor Ming.
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Buddhism spread from India then over to Central Asia around 100 AD.Buddhist monks and merchants wandered through Central Asia to spread their religion.
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Buddhism is accepted in Korea 527 AD.
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Many East Asian trade routes that ran from China to Korea has allowed Buddhism to spread over Japan in 538-552 AD.Just like other countries, Japan was introduced by books,sacred textures and deities and it has changed most of Japan's culture and lifestyle.
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Buddhism is almost extinct in India in the mid 12th century.Foreign invaders saw how exposable India was when it was popular among India.To enemies, Buddhism seemed like a threat to them and that it was against their religion so India began to get constantly invaded.It was believed that Buddhism was the downfall of the empire at the time.However because of this it has allowed Hinduism to increase in India.
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The Pagan Empire was the largest Theravada (Branch of Buddhism) kingdom in South Asia.However, due to the peaceful religion it as allowed Mongolians to constantly invade and thus led to the fall of the Pagan Empire in 1287 CE.
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Religious freedom is finally allowed in Japan with no official nation religion in 1945.
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The People's Republic of China banned Buddhism in 1949.Monasteres and temples were destroyed and many other restrictions were set up.
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While Buddhism was spreading over Central Asia it continued spreading over through Southeast Asia.This took place from 100- 300 A.D.Indian merchants traveled over to Southeast Asia trading and also spreading their Buddhist beliefs and culture which influenced locals around them allowing the spred of Buddhism.
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Right after Buddhisms spread through Southeast Asia, it continued to spread through East Asia and eventually over to Japan.The spreading took place from 300-500 AD.In hopes of a "Pure Land" East Asia has accepted Buddhism as a way to escape emptiness in themselves and believed for it to be "Indian Taoism".East Asia also happened to be where Buddhism spread the most.
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Tenzin Gyatso, a Dalai Lama (a spiritual Buddhist leader) is exiled in 1959 during the Tibetan uprising.
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On June 11, 1963 Thích Quảng Đức was a Vietnamese monk who performed self-immolation burning himself alive in order to protest against the persecution of Buddhist in South Vietnam.This serves as an example of political impact as it stopped John F. Kennedy from supporting South Vietnam on its persecution of Buddhists.
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Mao's death in 1976 has revived Buddhism and other religions in China.
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Two 6th century statues were destroyed on March 2001 by the Talibans.The Taliban government considered that they were pagan idols and believed it was against their religion.
