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Buddhism reaches China and the White Horse Temple is founded

c. 67-68 CE (traditional)·Religion & ideology·China (Luoyang, Eastern Han)·
c. 67-68 CE (traditional)Date
Religion & ideologyCategory
12Empires active
Date
c. 67-68 CE (traditional)
Category
Religion & ideology
Region
China (Luoyang, Eastern Han)
Era
Classical Antiquity
Significance

Tradition holds that Buddhism entered China during the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han dynasty, prompted by a dream in which the emperor saw a radiant golden figure later identified as the Buddha.

Envoys sent westward are said to have returned around 67 CE with two Indian monks, Buddhist scriptures, and images, carried on white horses. In recognition, Emperor Ming reputedly ordered the construction of the White Horse Temple (Baima Si) at Luoyang around 68 CE, traditionally regarded as the first Buddhist temple in China and a centre for the translation of Buddhist texts. While modern scholars treat the legend as a later foundation story and note that Buddhism arrived more gradually via Central Asian trade routes, the episode marks the symbolic beginning of Buddhism in East Asia. Over the following centuries Buddhism became one of China's major religions and spread onward to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, profoundly shaping East Asian civilisation.

See the world map in c. 67-68 CE (traditional) →More religion & ideologyThe Classical Antiquity era

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A Little History of Religion

Richard Holloway

Accessible sweep of humanity's faiths and belief systems from prehistory to the present.

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