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Buddhism Along The Silk Road Research Paper

1788 Words8 Pages

Elijah Leslie
World History
Prof. Edwards
October 23, 2014
Buddhism Along the Silk Road

The Silk Roads where more than just a trade route for silk and goods, but a these routes shared and spread ideas from the western civilizations to the east. Many religions were started and many technologies were invented due to the silk road. In this essay I will be talking about Buddhism and it’s travels along the Silk Road and the changes it went under when it was spread to certain parts of the continent. I will be going over the backs troy on how buddhism was started, all of the five sects of Buddhism, and what makes them different from each other. Buddhism derived from the country of India about 2500 years ago from a prince named Siddartha Gautama. The prince was confined to his place and couldn't leave. His father was afraid that his son would get killed and his royal bloodline would end. One day Siddartha sneaked out of his palace and came across a sick man, an old man, a corpse, and a monk. To the prince, this was life changing. He realized that not even a …show more content…

This sect of Buddhism believes that even in the afterlife you can strive to become enlightened. This form of Buddhism was started in India around the second century and traveled to china in the Third century and became popular in the seventh century. Followers of this form of Buddhism believe that through kindness and mercy you would be reborn in a place where you can continue towards enlightenment without earthly distractions. After the spread to China it made its way to Japan in the twelfth century. Pure Land Buddhism still follows the same concepts of Mahayana, Hinayana, and Esoteric Buddhism in its search for the meaning of life and to achieve enlightenment. Pure Land Buddhism gives more of a chance to reach it in their belief in a after life where you can devote your time to be faithful and

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