Buddhism Timeline: 600 BCE 600 CE

Date 563-483 BCE Event Life of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, during which he reaches enlightenment under the sacred fig tree and spreads his teachings on how to find and follow the path to enlightenment 1st and 2nd Buddhist councils held to discuss Buddhism (in India) Theravada Buddhism, the Doctrine of the Elders begins to develop in Buddhist communities in India The modern Pali Tripitaka Canon is now basically complete Indian Emperor Ashoka is converted to Buddhism; develops Buddhism from a small local group of believers to a state religion 3rd Buddhist council held by King Ashoka the Pali Tripitika Canon is created at this council (held in India) Mahayana Buddhism (a sect of Buddhism) begins to develop as an offshoot of Theravada Buddhism According to historical accounts, two Buddhist missionaries from India arrived in China in the court of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty; they enjoyed imperial favor and translated several Indian Buddhist texts into Chinese Buddhism enters Central Asia and China from India Furthur expansion of Buddhism into South-Asian countries, such as Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos. Buddhist influence in China increases Buddhism enters Korea via China Buddhism reaches Japan from China, probably via Korea Buddhism becomes state religion of Japan

479, 379 BCE 400-300 BCE 3rd Century BCE 297 BCE 247 BCE 200 BCE 68 CE

1st Century CE 3rd Century CE 372 CE 538 CE 594 CE