Buddhism and Its Spread Along the Silk Road

Along with trade and migration, the Silk Road carried religion through and across Central Asia and India. Buddhism left arts and literature that still captivates us today. The birth of Buddhism was in India, where Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was born and raised. By the age of twenty, he retreated from the palace in search of enlightenment after witnessing suffering and death. He achieved enlightenment at Bodha Gaya and had his first sermon at Sarnath. He continued to travel and teach Buddhism until his death at eighty years old. His body was cremated, and relics were divided among eight clans. The clans built memorials for Buddha, and his death led to a massive increase in converters as many great leaders converted. The Indian king, Ashoka allowed Buddhist monks to move across their empire, and thus they made their way to the Kushan/Bactrian kingdom. 

The Kushans controlled trade between India, China, Parthia and the Roman Empire, so Buddhism diffused even farther. Soon, villages developed a distinctive Graeco-Buddhist art form. Then Buddhism penetrated the Sassanians and Parthians. Style of Buddhist art traveled eastward, and Buddhism reached its peak in the 8th and 9th centuries. This religion traveled to the Tarim basin, and by 658 Kucha became the leading center of Hinayana Buddhism. The nomads then established the faith in the Steppes, becoming less barbaric and soon joined civilization. Some Turkish rulers were patrons of Buddhism, but by 680 Eastern Turks disassociated themselves once again. 

When the Silk Road opened in the second century, missionaries spread to China, Central Asia, and India. A Han emperor dreamed of Buddha and sent his official to Central Asia to learn more about Buddhism. The official returned with Buddhist scriptures, art, and two monks. After a Buddhist community was established, the translation of scriptures and spread of Buddhist art spread rapidly throughout China. During the fourth century, Kumarajiva organized the first translation bureau, and his team translated over 98 works from many languages into Chinese. He promoted the growth of Buddhism, and the religion had two million followers. The collapse of the Tang dynasty resulted in the decline of Buddhism, and the conversion of Islam began around the eighth century.  Islam condemned iconography, so many Buddhist temples and statures were destroyed. By the 18th century, the entirety of Central Asia converted to Islam. Buddhism's lasting impact on Central Asia's art became a fusion of western and eastern cultures.  Buddha's earliest image resembled Apollo, but later other cultures contributed to the image of the Buddha. Buddhist architectures created great temples, and artists created detailed wall paintings. 

• What was the impact of Buddhist beliefs on nomads in the steppes? The nomads became less barbaric, grew more peaceful and soon joined nearby civilizations. 

• What was Kumarajiva's role in spreading Buddhism in China? Kumarajiva and his team translated many works to Chinese, thus expanding the religion as people understood the concepts.

• How did Buddhist art change in the 200sCE? Before the third century, there was no depiction of Buddha's image, but in the Gandharan culture, representations of Buddha became popular. 

• What caused Buddhism along the Silk Road to decline? The collapse of the Tang dynasty and the invasion of the Arabs caused Buddhism's decline.