Buddhism: From India to China and Japan

Buddhism originated in India (6th century BCE) with Siddhartha Gautama. It spread via the Silk Road to China (1st century CE), becoming a major religion, then to Japan (6th century CE), where it became dominant. Core teachings:

• Four Noble Truths: Life is suffering; desire causes suffering; cessation is nirvana; path is the Eightfold Path.
• Eightfold Path: Right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.

Buddhism profoundly shaped art, philosophy, politics, and social movements across Asia and beyond.