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Curated category

Buddhism by country

  • Buddhism in SingaporeBuddhism is the largest religion in Singapore, practiced by approximately 31.1% of the population as of 2020. Census data from that year shows 1,074,159…
  • Buddhism by countryAbout 320 million people practiced Buddhism as of 2020. This number represents 4.1% of the world's total population. The Pew Research Center tracked these…
  • East Asian BuddhismBuddhism entered China during the Han dynasty, a period when the empire expanded its influence into Central Asia. Trade networks along the Silk Road…
  • Buddhism in BhutanBuddhism stands as the state religion of Bhutan. A 2012 report by the Pew Research Center found that 74.7% of the country's population practices this faith.
  • Buddhism in JapanIn the middle of the sixth century, a diplomatic mission from King Seong of Baekje arrived in Japan carrying an image of the Buddha Shakyamuni and ritual…
  • Buddhism in LaosIn the 7th century, Theravada Buddhism first reached Laos through the kingdom of Dvaravati. This early transmission occurred alongside tantric Buddhist…
  • Buddhism in TaiwanIn 1624, Dutch settlers arrived in Taiwan and immediately began to discourage Buddhist practice. Under Dutch law from that year until 1663, idol worship…
  • Chinese BuddhismBuddhist missionaries began bringing Buddhism to China during the Han dynasty, and the religion was present in China at the beginning of the common era.
  • Buddhism in Central AsiaA standing Buddha statue from the 1st century BCE stands in the Tokyo National Museum, draped in a Greek himation that flows over both shoulders.
  • Buddhism in Sri LankaIn the third century BCE, a mission led by the elder Mahinda arrived in Sri Lanka to introduce Buddhism. This event occurred during the reign of King…
  • Buddhism in NepalEmperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire put up a pillar at Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, in the second century BCE.
  • Buddhism in VietnamBuddhism reached Vietnam as early as the 3rd or 2nd century BCE through delegations from India. It also arrived during the 1st or 2nd century CE via China.
  • Korean BuddhismIn 372 CE, a monk named Sundo arrived at the court of King Sosurim in Goguryeo. He carried texts and statues that introduced Buddhism to the northern kingdom.
  • Buddhism in CambodiaIn the 5th century, Mahayana Buddhism arrived in the Kingdom of Funan alongside Hindu merchants. Chinese traveler Yijing observed this dual religious…
  • Buddhism in MongoliaBuddhism in Mongolia began its journey across the steppes during the first millennium CE. The earliest introduction of Buddhism into the Mongolian steppes…
  • Buddhism in MyanmarGold plates containing fragments of the Pali Tipitaka from the 5th century lie buried in Maunggan, a village near the ancient city of Sriksetra.
  • Buddhism in ThailandIn the 3rd century BCE, monks named Sona Thera and Uttara Thera traveled to a region called Suvannabhumi, which modern scholars place somewhere in Southeast…