Timeline of Buddhism
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2008-06-15T16:41:23Z
Eu.stefan
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Buddhism topics template
{{buddhism}}
==Foundation to the Common Era==
Some sources give the date of the Buddha's birth as 563 BCE and others as 624 BCE; Theravada Buddhist countries tend to use the latter figure. This displaces all the dates in the following table about 61 years further back. See [http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/thera_timeline.htm Theravada Buddhism].
* [[560s BCE|563 BCE]]: [[Gautama Buddha|Siddhārtha Gautama]], [[Buddha (general)|Buddha]]-to-be, is born in [[Lumbini]] into the royal family of The [[Kingdom of Shakyas]], which is now part of [[History of Nepal#Ancient history|Nepal]].
* [[530s BCE|534 BCE]]: Prince Siddhartha goes outside the palace for the first time and sees [[The Four Sights]]: an old man, an ill man, a dead man, and a holy man. He is shocked by the first three—he did not know what age, disease, and death were—but is inspired by the holy man to give up his wealth. He leaves his house and lives with three [[ascetics]]. However, he wants more than to starve himself, so he becomes a religious teacher.
* [[520s BCE|528 BCE]]: Siddhartha attains [[Enlightenment (Buddhism)|Enlightenment]] in [[Buddha Gaya]] (modern-day [[Bodhgaya]]), then travels to a deer park in [[Sarnath]] (near [[Varanasi]]), [[India]], and begins expounding the [[Dharma]].
* [[528 BCE]] According to legend, Trapusha and Bhallika, two trader-brothers from Okkala (modern-day [[Yangon]]), offer the Gautama's first meal as the enlightened Buddha. The Buddha gives eight strands of his hair to the two brothers; the strands are brought back to Burma and enshrined in the [[Shwedagon Pagoda]]. Thus, according to myth, this is the year when the Shwedagon Pagoda was built.
*c. 490–410 BCE: Life of the Buddha, according to recent research.<ref>[http://indology.info/papers/cousins/ INDOLOGY - The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*c. [[483 BCE]]: [[Gautama Buddha]] dies at Kusinara (now called [[Kushinagar]]), [[India]]. Three months following his death, the [[First Buddhist Council]] is convened.
*[[383 BCE]]: The [[Second Buddhist Council]] is convened by King [[Kalasoka]] and held at [[Vaisali]].
*c. [[250 BCE]]: [[Third Buddhist Council]], convened by [[Ashoka the Great]] and chaired by [[Moggaliputta Tissa]], compiles the ''[[Kathavatthu]]'' to refute the heretical views and theories held by some Buddhist sects. Ashoka issues a number of edicts ([[Edicts of Ashoka]]) about the kingdom in support of Buddhism.
*c. [[250 BCE]]: Emperor [[Ashoka the Great]] sends various [[Ashoka#Missions_to_spread_the_Dharma.2FDhamma|Buddhist missionaries]] to faraway countries, as far as [[China]] and the [[Mon people|Mon]] & [[Malay people|Malay]] kingdoms in the east and the [[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenistic kingdoms]] in the west, in order to make Buddhism known to them.
*c. [[250 BCE]]: First fully developed examples of [[Kharosthi|Kharoṣṭhī]] script date from this period (the [[Ashoka|Aśokan]] inscriptions at [[Shabazgarhi|Shāhbāzgaṛhī]] and [[Mansehra District|Mānsehrā]], a northwestern Indian subcontinent).
*[[3rd century BCE|200s BCE]]: Indian traders regularly visit ports in [[Arabia]], explaining the prevalence of place names in the region with Indian or Buddhist origin; e.g., ''bahar'' (from the [[Sanskrit]] ''vihara'', a Buddhist [[monastery]]). [[Ashoka]]n emissary monks bring Buddhism to [[Suwannaphum]], the location of which is disputed. The ''[[Dipavamsa]]'' and the [[Mon people|Mon]] believe it was a Mon seafaring settlement in present-day [[Myanmar|Burma]].
*c. [[220 BCE]]: [[Theravada]] Buddhism is officially introduced to [[Sri Lanka]] by the [[Venerable Mahinda]], son of the emperor [[Ashoka]] of India during the reign of King [[Devanampiya Tissa]].
*[[185 BCE]]: [[Brahmin]] general [[Pusyamitra Sunga]] overthrows the [[Mauryan dynasty]] and establishes the [[Sunga dynasty]], apparently starting a wave of persecution against Buddhism.
*[[180 BCE]]: [[Greco-Bactrian]] King [[Demetrius I of Bactria|Demetrius]] invades India as far as [[Pataliputra]] and establishes the [[Indo-Greek]] kingdom (180–10 BCE), under which Buddhism flourishes.
*c. [[150 BCE]]: [[Indo-Greek]] king [[Menander I]] converts to [[Buddhism]] under the sage [[Nagasena|Nāgasena]], according to the account of the [[Milinda Panha]].
*[[120 BCE]]: The Chinese Emperor [[Han Wudi]] (156–87 BCE) receives two golden statues of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], according to inscriptions in the [[Mogao Caves]], [[Dunhuang]].
*[[1st century BCE]]: The Indo-Greek governor [[Theodorus (meridarch)|Theodorus]] enshrines relics of the Buddha, dedicating them to the deified "Lord [[Shakyamuni]]."
*[[29 BCE]]: According to the Sinhalese chronicles, the [[Pali Canon]] is written down in the reign of King {{IAST|Vaṭṭagamiṇi}} (29–17 BCE){{Fact|date=February 2007}}
*[[2 BCE]]: The [[Hou Hanshu]] records the visit in [[2 BCE]] of [[Yuezhi]] envoys to the Chinese capital, who give oral teachings on [[Buddhist]] sutras.<ref>Baldev Kumar (1973). Exact source needed!</ref>
==Common Era==
*[[65]]: [[Liu Ying]]'s sponsorship of Buddhism is the first documented case of Buddhist practices in China.
*67: [[Buddhism in China|Buddhism]] comes to [[China]] with the two monks [[Moton]] and [[Chufarlan]].
*68: [[Buddhism]] is officially established in [[China]] with the founding of the [[White Horse Temple]].
*78: [[Ban Chao]], a Chinese General, subdues the Buddhist [[Kingdom of Khotan]].
*78–101: According to [[Mahayana]] tradition, the [[Fourth Buddhist council]] takes place under [[Kushan]]a king [[Kanishka]]'s reign, near [[Jalandar]], [[India]].
*[[116|116 CE]]: The Kushans, under [[Kanishka]], establish a kingdom centered on [[Kashgar]], also taking control of [[Khotan]] and [[Yarkent County|Yarkand]]—previously Chinese dependencies in the [[Tarim Basin]], modern [[Xinjiang]].
*148: [[An Shigao]], a [[Parthia|Parthian]] prince and Buddhist monk, arrives in China and proceeds to make the first translations of [[Theravada]] texts into Chinese.
*178: The [[Kushan]] monk [[Lokaksema]] travels to the Chinese capital of [[Loyang]] and becomes the first known translator of [[Mahayana]] texts into Chinese.
*[[2nd century|100s]]/[[3rd century|200s]]: Indian and [[Central Asia|Central Asian]] Buddhists travel to Vietnam.
*[[3rd century|200s]]: Use of [[Kharosthi|Kharoṣṭhī]] script in [[Gandhara]] stops.
*[[3rd century|200s]] & [[4th Century|300s]]: [[Kharosthi|Kharoṣṭhī]] script is used in the southern [[Silk Road]] cities of [[Khotan]] and [[Niya]].
*[[296]]: The earliest surviving Chinese Buddhist scripture dates from this year (''Zhu Fo Yao Ji Jing'', discovered in [[Dalian]], late [[2005]]).
*[[4th century|300s]]: Two Chinese monks take scriptures to the [[Korea]]n kingdom of [[Goguryeo]] and establish papermaking in Korea.
*320-467: The University at [[Nalanda]] grows to support 3,000–10,000 monks.
*399-414: [[Fa Xian]] travels from China to India, then returns to translate Buddhist works into Chinese.
*[[5th century|400s]]: The kingdom of [[Funan]] (centered in modern [[Cambodia]]) begins to advocate Buddhism in a departure from [[Hindu]]ism. Earliest evidence of Buddhism in [[Myanmar]] ([[Pāli|Pali]] inscriptions). Earliest evidence of Buddhism in [[Indonesia]]n (statues). Earliest reinterpretations of Pali texts. The stupa at [[Dambulla]] ([[Sri Lanka]]) is constructed.
*402: At the request of [[Yao Xing]], [[Kumarajiva]] travels to [[Changan]] and translates many Buddhist texts into [[Chinese languages|Chinese]].
*403: In China, [[Hui Yuan]] argues that Buddhist monks should be exempt from bowing to the emperor.
*405: [[Yao Xing]] honours [[Kumarajiva]].
*425: Buddhism reaches [[Sumatra]].
*464: [[Buddhabhadra]] reaches China to preach Buddhism.
*495: The [[Shaolin Monastery|Shaolin temple]] is built in the name of Buddhabhadra, by edict of emperor Wei Xiao Wen.<ref>[http://www.easternmartialarts.com/kungfu_history.htm Kungfu History at EasternMartialArts.com]</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Canzonieri, Salvatore | year = 1998 | month = February–March | title = History of Chinese Martial Arts: Jin Dynasty to the Period of Disunity | journal = Han Wei Wushu | volume = 3 | issue = 9 | url = }}</ref>
*485: Five monks from [[Gandhara]] travel to the country of [[Fusang]] ([[Japan]], or possibly the [[American continent]]), where they introduce Buddhism.
*[[6th century|500s]]: [[Zen]] adherents enter [[Vietnam]] from China. [[Jataka]] stories are translated into [[Persian language|Persian]] by order of the [[Zoroastrian]] king, [[Khosrau I of Persia]].
*527: [[Bodhidharma]] settles into the Shaolin monastery in [[Henan]] province of China.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0804834393&id=gHSAiZMhxhwC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=bodhidharma+china+martial+arts&sig=pT-2FI5jLcnXlH3I9SkuWOzO4uw] The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment
by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit</ref>
*552: Buddhism is introduced to [[Japan]] via [[Baekje]] ([[Korea]]), according to [[Nihonshoki]]; some scholars place this event in 538.
*Early [[7th century|600s]]: [[Jingwan]] begins carving sutras onto stone at [[Fangshan]], [[Yuzhou]], 75 km southwest of modern-day [[Beijing]].
*607: A [[Japan]]ese imperial envoy is dispatched to [[Sui Dynasty|Sui]], [[China]] to obtain copies of sutras.
*[[7th century|600s]]: [[Xuan Zang]] travels to India, noting the persecution of Buddhists by [[Sasanka]] (king of [[Gouda]], a state in northwest [[Bengal]]) before returning to [[Chang An]] in China to translate Buddhist scriptures. End of sporadic Buddhist rule in the [[Sindh]]. King [[Songtsen Gampo]] of [[Tibet]] sends messengers to India to get Buddhist texts. Latest recorded use of the [[Kharosthi|Kharoṣṭhī]] script amongst Buddhist communities around [[Kucha]].
*671: Chinese Buddhist pilgrim [[I Ching (monk)|Yi Jing]] visits [[Palembang]], capital of the partly Buddhist kingdom of [[Srivijaya]] on the island of [[Sumatra]], [[Indonesia]], and reports over 1000 Buddhist monks in residence. [[Uisang]] returns to [[Korea]] after studying Chinese [[Huayan]] Buddhism and founds the [[Hwaeom]] school.
*736: [[Huayan]] is transmitted to [[Japan]] via [[Korea]], when [[Rōben]] invites the [[Korea]]n [[Hwaeom]] monk [[Simsang]] to lecture, and formally founds Japan's [[Kegon]] tradition in the [[Tōdaiji]] temple.
*743–754: The [[China|Chinese]] monk [[Jianzhen]] attempts to reach [[Japan]] eleven times, succeeding in 754 to establish the Japanese [[Ritsu]] school, which specialises in the ''[[vinaya]]'' (monastic rules).
*[[8th century|700s]]: Buddhist [[Jataka]] stories are translated in to [[Syriac]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] as [[Kalilag and Damnag]]. An account of Buddha's life is translated into [[Greek language|Greek]] by [[John of Damascus]] and widely circulated to [[Christianity|Christians]] as the story of [[Barlaam]] and [[Josaphat]]. By the [[14th century|1300s]], this story of [[Josaphat]] becomes so popular that he is made a [[Catholic]] saint.
*[[8th century|700s]]: Under the reign of King [[Trisong Deutsen]], [[Padmasambhava]] travels from Afghanistan to establish tantric Buddhism in Tibet (later known as the [[Nyingma]] school of Tibetan Buddhism), replacing [[Bön|Bonpo]] as the kingdom's main religion. Buddhism quickly spreads to [[Sikkim]] and [[Bhutan]].
*c. 760: Construction is begun on [[Borobodur]], the famous Indonesian Buddhist structure, probably as a non-Buddhist shrine. It is completed as a Buddhist monument in 830, after about 50 years of work.
*804: Under the reign of [[Emperor Kammu]] of Japan, a fleet of four ships sets sail for mainland [[China]]. Of the two ships that arrive, one carries the monk [[Kūkai]]—recently ordained by the Japanese government as a [[Bhiksu]]—who absorbs [[Vajrayana]] teachings in [[Chang'an]] and returns to Japan to found the Japanese [[Shingon]] school. The other ship carries the monk [[Saichō]], who returns to Japan to found the Japanese [[Tendai]] school, partly based upon the Chinese [[Tiantai]] tradition.
*838–847: [[Ennin]], a priest of the [[Tendai]] school, travels in China for nine years. He reaches both the famous Buddhist mountain of [[Wutaishan]] and the Chinese capital, [[Chang'an]], keeping a detailed diary that is a primary source for this period of Chinese history, including the Buddhist persecution.
*841–846: Emperor [[Wuzong]] of the [[Tang Dynasty]] (given name: [[Li Yan]]) reigns in [[China]]; he is one of three Chinese emperors to prohibit Buddhism. From 843-845, Wuzong carries out the [[Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution]], permanently weakening the institutional structure of Buddhism in China.
*9th-century Tibet: Decline of Buddhism; persecution by King Langdarma.
*[[10th century|900s]]: Buddhist temple construction commences at [[Bagan]], [[Myanmar]]. In Tibet, a strong Buddhist revival is begun. The [[Caodong]] school of [[Zen]] is founded by [[Tung-shan|Dongshan Liangjie]] and his disciples in southern [[China]].
*971: Chinese [[Song Dynasty]] commissions [[Chengdu]] woodcarvers to carve the entire Buddhist canon for printing. Work is completed in 983; 130,000 blocks are produced, in total.
*991: A printed copy of the [[Song Dynasty]] Buddhist canon arrives in [[Korea]], impressing the government.
*1000s: [[Marpa]], [[Konchog Gyalpo]], [[Atisha]], and others introduce the [[Sarma]] lineages into Tibet.
*1009: [[Vietnam]]'s Ly Dynasty begins, which is partly brought about by an alliance with the Buddhist monkhood. Ly emperors patronize [[Mahayana]] Buddhism, in addition to traditional spirits.
*1010: [[Korea]] begins carving its own woodblock print edition of the Buddhist canon. No completion date is known; the canon is continuously expanded, with the arrival of new texts from [[China]].
*1017: In Southeast Asia, and especially in [[Sri Lanka]], the Bhikkhuni (Buddhist nuns) Order dies out due to invasions. The bhikkhu line in [[Sri Lanka]] is later revived with bhikkhus from [[Burma]].
*1025: [[Srivijaya]], a Buddhist kingdom based in [[Sumatra]], is raided by the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] empire of southern [[India]]; it survives, but declines in importance. Shortly after the raid, the centre of the kingdom moves northward from [[Palembang]] to [[Jambi-Melayu]].
*1044–1077: In [[Burma]], [[Pagan, Myanmar|Pagan]]'s first king [[Anoratha]] reigns. He converts the country to [[Theravada]] Buddhism with the aid of monks and books from [[Sri Lanka]]. He is said to have been converted to [[Theravada]] Buddhism by a [[Mon (ethnic group)|Mon]] monk, though other beliefs persist.
*1057: [[Anawrahta]] of [[Myanmar]] captures [[Thaton]] in northern [[Thailand]], strengthening [[Theravada]] Buddhism in the country.
*1063: A copy of the [[Khitan people|Khitan]]s' printed canon arrives in [[Korea]] from mainland [[China]].
*1084–1113: In [[Myanmar]], [[Pagan, Myanmar|Pagan]]'s second king, [[Kyanzittha]] (son of [[Anawrahta]]), reigns. He completes the building of the [[Shwezigon]] pagoda, a shrine for relics of the Buddha, including a tooth brought from [[Sri Lanka]]. Various inscriptions refer to him as an incarnation of [[Vishnu]], a [[chakravartin]], a [[bodhisattva]], and [[dharmaraja]].
*[[12th century|1100s]]: Sanskrit is subsequently written in [[Devanagari]].
*1100–1125: [[Emperor Huizong of Song China|Huizong]] reigns during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty (960–1279)|Song Dynasty]] and outlaws Buddhism to promote [[Taoism|the Dao]]. He is one of three Chinese emperors to have prohibited Buddhism.
*1113: [[Alaungsithu]] reigns in [[Pagan, Myanmar]] until his son [[Narathu]] smothers him to death and assumes the throne.
*1133–1212: [[Hōnen]] establishes [[Pure Land]] Buddhism as an independent sect in [[Japan]].
*1181: The self-styled [[bodhisattva]] [[Jayavarman VII]], a devout follower of [[Mahayana]] Buddhism (though he also patronised [[Hinduism]]), assumes control of the [[Khmer Empire|Khmer]] kingdom. He constructs the [[Bayon]], the most prominent Buddhist structure in the [[Angkor]] temple complex. This sets the stage for the later conversion of the Khmer people to [[Theravada]] Buddhism.
*1190: In [[Myanmar]], [[Anawrahta]]'s lineage regains control with the assistance of Sri Lanka. Pagan has been in anarchy. The new regime reforms Burmese Buddhism on Sri Lankan [[Theravada]] models.
*Late [[12th century|1100s]]: The great Buddhist educational centre at [[Nalanda]], where various subjects were taught subjects such as [[Buddhism]], [[Logic]], [[Philosophy]], [[Law]], [[Medicine]], [[Grammar]], [[Yoga]], [[Mathematics]], [[Alchemy]], and [[Astrology]], is sacked. Nalanda is supported by kings of several dynasties and serves as a great international centre of learning.
*[[13th century|1200s]]: [[Theravada]] overtakes [[Mahayana]]—previously practised alongside [[Hinduism]]—as the dominant form of Buddhism in [[Cambodia]]; [[Sri Lanka]] is an influence in this change. In [[Persian Empire|Persia]], the historian [[Rashid al-Din]] records some eleven Buddhist texts circulating in [[Arabic language|Arabic]] translation, amongst which the Sukhavati-vyuha and Karanda-vyuha Sutras are recognizable. Portions of the Samyutta and Anguttara-Nikayas, along with parts of the Maitreya-vyakarana, are identified in this collection.
*1222: Birth of [[Nichiren Daishonin]] (1222–1282), the Japanese founder of Nichiren Buddhism.
*c. 1238: The [[Thai ethnic groups|Thai]] Kingdom of [[Sukhothai kingdom|Sukhothai]] is established, with [[Theravada]] Buddhism as the state religion.
*1227: [[Dogen Zenji]] takes the [[Caodong]] school of [[Zen]] from [[China]] to [[Japan]] as the [[Soto]] sect.
*1244: [[Eiheiji]] Soto Zen Temple and Monastery are established by [[Dogen Zenji]].
*1277: [[Burma]]'s [[Pagan, Myanmar|Pagan]] empire begins to disintegrate after being defeated by [[Kublai Khan]] at the [[Battle of Ngasaunggyan]], at [[Yunnan]], near the [[China|Chinese]] border.
*1285: [[Arghun]] makes the [[Il-Khanate]] a Buddhist state.
*1287: The [[Theravada]] kingdom at [[Pagan, Myanmar]] falls to the [[Mongols]] and is overshadowed by the [[Shan]] capital at [[Ava]].
*c. 1279–1298: [[Sukhothai kingdom|Sukhothai]]'s third and most famous ruler, [[Ramkhamhaeng]] (Rama the Bold), reigns and makes vassals of [[Laos]], much of modern [[Thailand]], [[Pegu]] ([[Burma]]), and parts of the [[Malay Peninsula]], thus giving rise to Sukhothai artistic tradition. After Ramkhamhaeng's death, Sukhothai loses control of its territories as its vassals become independent.
*1295: [[Mongol]] leader [[Mahmud Ghazan|Ghazan Khan]] is converted to [[Islam]], ending a line of [[Tantrayana|Tantric Buddhist]] leaders.
*1305–1316: Buddhists in [[Persian Empire|Persia]] attempt to convert [[Uldjaitu Khan]].
*1321: [[Sojiji]] Soto Zen Temple and Monastery established by [[Keizan Zenji]].
*1351: In [[Thailand]], U Thong, possibly the son of a [[China|Chinese]] merchant family, establishes [[Ayutthya (city)|Ayutthaya]] as his capital and takes the name of [[Ramathibodi]].
*1391–1474: Gyalwa Gendun Drubpa, first [[Dalai Lama]] of [[Tibet]].
*1405–1431: The Chinese eunuch admiral [[Zheng He]] makes seven voyages in this period, through [[southeast Asia]], [[India]], the [[Persian Gulf]], East [[Africa]], and [[Egypt]]. At the time, Buddhism is well-established in China, so visited peoples may have had exposure to Chinese Buddhism.
*1578: [[Altan Khan]] of the [[Tümed]] gives the title of [[Dalai Lama]] to [[Sonam Gyatso]] (later known as the third Dalai Lama).
*[[17th century|1600s]] & [[18th century|1700s]]: When [[Vietnam]] divides during this period, the Nguyen rulers of the south choose to support [[Mahayana]] Buddhism as an integrative ideology for the ethnically plural society of their kingdom, which is also populated by [[Champa|Chams]] and other minorities.
*1614: The [[Toyotomi]] family rebuilds a great image of Buddha at the [[Temple of Hokoji|Temple of Hōkōji]] in [[Kyoto|Kyōtō]].
*1615: The [[Oirats|Oirat]] Mongols convert to the [[Geluk]] school of Tibetan Buddhism.
*1635: In Zanabazar, the first [[Jebtsundamba Khutughtu]] is born as a great-grandson of [[Abadai Khan]] of the [[Khalkha]].
*1642: [[Güüshi Khan]] of the [[Khoshuud]] donates the sovereignty of Tibet to the fifth Dalai Lama.
*1766–[[1767|67]]: In [[Thailand]], many Buddhist texts are destroyed as the [[Burma|Burmese]] invade [[Ayutthaya kingdom|Ayutthaya]].
*[[19th century|1800s]]: In Thailand, King [[Mongkut]]—himself a former monk—conducts a campaign to reform and modernise the monkhood, a movement that has continued in the present century under the inspiration of several great ascetic monks from the northeast part of the country.
*1802–[[1820|20]]: [[Nguyen Anh]] comes to the throne of the first united [[Vietnam]]; he succeeds by quelling the [[Tayson rebellion]] in south Vietnam with help from [[Rama I]] in Bangkok, then takes over the north from the remaining Trinh. After coming to power, he creates a [[Confucian|Confucianist]] orthodox state and is eager to limit the competing influence of Buddhism. He forbids adult men to attend Buddhist ceremonies.
*1820–[[1841|41]]: [[Minh Mang]] reigns in [[Vietnam]], further restricting Buddhism. He insists that all monks be assigned to [[cloister]]s and carry identification documents. He also places new restrictions on printed material and begins the persecution of [[Catholic]] missionaries and converts that his successors (not without provocation) continue.
*c. 1860: In [[Sri Lanka]], against all expectations, the monastic and lay communities bring about a major revival in Buddhism, a movement that goes hand in hand with growing nationalism; the revival follows a period of persecution by foreign powers. Since then, Buddhism has flourished, and Sri Lankan monks and expatriate lay people have been prominent in spreading Theravada Buddhism in Asia, the West, and even in Africa.
*1879: A council is convened under the patronage of King [[Mindon Min]] of Burma to re-edit the [[Pāli|Pali]] canon. The king has the texts engraved on 729 stones, which are then set upright on the grounds of a monastery near [[Mandalay]].
*1882: [[Jade Buddha Temple]] is founded in [[Shanghai]], China, with two Jade Buddha statues imported from Burma.
*1893: The [[World Parliament of Religions]] meets in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]; [[Anagarika Dharmapala]] and [[Soyen Shaku]] attend.
*1896: Using [[Fa Xian]]'s records, [[Nepalese]] archaeologists rediscover the great stone pillar of [[Ashoka]] at [[Lumbini]].
*1899: [[Gordon Douglas]] is ordained in [[Myanmar]]; he is the first Westerner to be ordained in the [[Theravada]] tradition.
*1922: [[Zenshuji|Zenshuji Soto Mission]] is founded as the first Soto Zen temple in North America.
*1930: [[Soka Gakkai]] is founded in [[Japan]].
*1949: [[Mahabodhi Temple]] in [[Bodh Gaya]] is returned to partial Buddhist control.
*1950: [[World Fellowship of Buddhists]] is founded in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1954: The [[Sixth Buddhist Council]] is held in Yangon, Myanmar, organized by [[U Nu]]. It ends in time for the 2500th anniversary of the passing of the Buddha.
*1956: Indian [[Dalit (outcaste)|untouchable]] leader [[B.R. Ambedkar]] converts to Buddhism, with more than 350,000 followers—beginning the modern [[Neo-Buddhist]] movement.
*1956: The [[Zen Studies Society]] is founded in [[New York]] to support the work of [[D.T. Suzuki]].
*1957: Caves near the summit of Pai-tai mountain, [[Fangshan]] district, 75km southwest of [[Beijing]], are reopened, revealing thousands of Buddhist sutras that had been carved onto stone since the 7th century. Seven sets of rubbings are made, and the stones are numbered, in work that continues until 1959.
*1959: Together with some 100,000 Tibetans, the 14th [[Dalai Lama]] flees the [[PRC|Chinese]] occupation of [[Tibet]] and establishes an exile community in India. The Chinese invaders completely destroy all but a handful of monasteries and severely persecute Buddhist practitioners.
*1962: The [[San Francisco Zen Center]] is founded by [[Shunryu Suzuki]].
*1963: [[Thích Quảng Đức]] immolates himself to protest the oppression of the Buddhist religion by [[Ngo Dinh Diem]].
*1965: The Burmese government arrests over 700 monks in [[Hmawbi]], near [[Yangon|Rangoon]], for refusing to accept government rule.
*1966: The [[World Buddhist Sangha Council]] is convened by [[Theravada|Theravadins]] in [[Sri Lanka]] with the hope of bridging differences and working together. The first convention is attended by leading monks from many countries and sects, [[Mahayana]] as well as [[Theravada]]. Nine ''[[Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and Mahayana]]'' are written by Ven. [[Walpola Rahula]] are approved unanimously:
*#The [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] is our only Master.
*#We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha (see [[Three Jewels]]).
*#We do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a [[God]].
*#We consider that the purpose of life is to develop [[compassion]] for all living beings, without discrimination, and to work for their good, happiness, and peace; and to develop wisdom leading to the realization of Ultimate Truth.
*#We accept the [[Four Noble Truths]]—namely [[Dukkha]], the Arising of Dukkha, the Cessation of Dukkha, and the Path leading to the Cessation of Dukkha—and the law of cause and effect ([[Pratitya-samutpada]]).
*#All conditioned things (sa.mskaara) are impermanent ([[anitya]]) and [[dukkha]], and that all conditioned and unconditioned things ([[dharma]]) are without self ([[anaatma]]).
*#We accept the Thirty-seven Qualities conducive to Enlightenment (bodhipak.sa-dharma) as different aspects of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment.
*#There are three ways of attaining [[bodhi]] or Enlightenment: namely, as a disciple (sraavaka); as a Pratyeka-Buddh; and as a Samyak-sam-Buddha (perfectly and Fully Enlightened Buddha). We accept it as the highest, noblest, and most heroic thing to follow the career of a Bodhisattva and to become a Samyak-sam-Buddha in order to save others.
*#We admit that in different countries, there are differences regarding Buddhist beliefs and practices. These external forms and expressions should not be confused with the essential teachings of the Buddha.
*1970s: Indonesian Archaeological Service and [[UNESCO]] restore [[Borobodur]].
*1973: The first [[vajrayana]] Buddhism centers are established in [[Europe]] by [[Lama Ole Nydahl]].
*1974: The Naropa Institute (now [[Naropa University]]) is founded in [[Boulder, Colorado]].
*1974: In [[Burma]], during demonstrations at [[U Thant]]'s funeral, 600 monks are arrested and several are bayoneted by government forces.
*1975: [[Lao]] [[Communist]] rulers attempt to change attitudes to religion—in particular, calling on monks to work, not beg. This causes many to return to lay life, but Buddhism remains popular.
*1975: The [[Insight Meditation Society]] is established in [[Barre]], [[Massachusetts]].
*1975–[[1979|79]]: Cambodian communists under [[Pol Pot]] try to completely destroy Buddhism, and very nearly succeed. By the time of the [[Sino-Vietnamese War#Vietnamese Invasion of Cambodia|Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia]] in 1978, nearly every monk and religious intellectual has been either murdered or driven into exile, and nearly every temple and Buddhist library has been destroyed.
*1976: Following a demonstration in [[Burma]], the government seeks to discredit the critical monk [[La Ba]] by claiming that he is a cannibal and a murderer.
*1978: In Burma, more monks and novices are arrested, disrobed, and imprisoned by the government. Monasteries are closed and property seized. The critical monk [[U Nayaka]] is arrested and dies, the government claiming it is suicide.
*1980: The Burmese military government asserts authority over the [[sangha]], and violence against monks continues through the decade.
*1983: The [[Shanghai Institute of Buddhism]] is established at [[Jade Buddha Temple]], under the [[Shanghai Buddhist Association]].
*1988: During the 1988 uprising, [[SPDC]] troops gun down monks. After the uprising, [[U Nyanissara]], a senior monk, records a tape that discusses democracy in Buddhist precepts; the tape is banned.
*1990, [[August 27]]: Over 7000 monks meet in [[Mandalay]], in [[Burma]], to call for a boycott of the military. They refuse to accept alms from military families or perform services for them. The military government seizes monasteries and arrests hundreds of monks, including senior monks [[U Sumangala]] and [[U Yewata]]. The monks face long-term imprisonment, and all boycotting monks are disrobed; some monks are tortured during interrogation.
*1992: The Buddha Statue in Hyderabad, [[India]] is installed, a work of former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Late Sri [[N.T. Rama Rao]]. The 16-meter tall, 350-ton monolithic colossus rises high from the placid waters of picturesque [[Husain Sagar]] Lake. It is made of white granite, finely sculptured and stands majestically amidst the shimmering waters of the lake. It is later consecrated by [[Dalai Lama]].
*1996, [[India]]: The Bhikkhuni (Buddhist nuns) Order and lineage is revived in Sarnath, [[India]] through the efforts of Sakyadhita, an International Buddhist Women Association. The revival is done with some resistance from some of the more literal interpreters of the Buddhist Vinaya (monastic code) and lauded by others in the community.
*1998, [[January 25]]: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ([[LTTE]]) terrorists commit a deadly suicide attack on Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist site and a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage centre: the [[Temple of the Tooth]], where Buddha's tooth relic is enshrined. Eight civilians are killed and 25 others are injured and significant damage is done to the temple structure, which was first constructed in 1592 AD.
*2000, January: The [[Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary]], a training facility for [[Malaysian Theravada|Theravada]] monks, is founded in [[Malaysia]].
*2001, May: Two of the world's tallest ancient Buddha statues, the [[Buddhas of Bamyan]], are completely destroyed by the [[Taliban]] in [[Bamyan]], [[Afghanistan]].
*2004, April: In [[Sri Lanka]], Buddhist monks acting as candidates for the [[Jaathika Hela Urumaya]] party win nine seats in elections.
*2006, November: In the [[United States]], two Buddhists are [[United States general elections, 2006|elected]] for the first time to the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]].
*2007 (September) Thousands of Burmese Buddhist monks and nuns protest against the military regime; the military regime responds with a bloody crackdown. Thousands are arrested, and hundreds flee to Thailand and India; the death toll is in the hundreds.
*2007, [[October 17]]: The U.S. Congress presents the [[14th Dalai Lama]] with the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and meets in public with President [[George W. Bush]].
* 2008 (March): Tibetan monks protest in Lhasa, and many Tibetans join in calling for the end of Chinese rule. Many Chinese businesses are attacked and burned. The Chinese respond by sending in troops and ordering a strict lockdown of the capital city of Lhasa. Many Tibetans are killed, with the death toll maybe over a hundred. Outraged, thousands of exiled Tibetans around the world protest.
==Notes==
<references/>
==See also==
*[[History of Buddhism]]
*[[History of Hinduism]]
*[[Timeline of Jainism]]
*[[Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States]]
==External links==
*[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/history.html Theravada Buddhist Chronology]
*Asakawa, K and Lodge, Henry Cabot (Ed.). ''Japan From the Japanese Government History''. (In Progress at [[Project Gutenberg]])
*[http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/s_scripts.htm Buddhist Bark Texts Found], BuddhaNet.
*[http://www.buddhism.kalachakranet.org/time_line.html A Buddhist Time-line]
*[http://ishi.lib.berkeley.edu/buddhist/bbrc/fang_shan_canon.html Rock cut canon in China]
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[[Category:History of Buddhism]]
[[Category:Religion timelines|Buddhism]]
[[cs:Buddhismus (časová osa)]]
[[de:Zeittafel zum Buddhismus]]
[[eo:Kronologio de budhismo]]
[[ru:Буддийская хронология]]
[[sr:Хронологија будизма]]