Spread of Buddhism through Silk Road and Korean Peninsula

This essay analyzes the spread of Buddhism in East/Southeast Asia through the Silk Road and the impact of the Korean Peninsula on Japan's culture, religion, technology, and governance.

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Introduction
The spread of Buddhism was attributed to different factors. The discussion analyses how Silk
Road led to the spread of Buddhism in East/Southeast Asia. The other parts analyses the impacts
of the peninsula in Korea to Japanese.
Ways in which Silk Road facilitated the spread of Buddhism into East Asia and/or Southeast
Asia and reasons why did East Asians and/or Southeast Asians so readily embrace Buddhism
The spread of Buddhism into East Asia was attributed to different factors. Some of the common
factors which led to the spread of Buddhism include silk, paper, and other goods which were of
much importance during the trade.1The common factor which facilitated Buddhism was the
presence of Silk Road in different regions. Reports indicate that Silk Road was an important
route for not just the movement of goods but also ideas at ancient time. Different authors show
that Silk Routes had impacts on the spread of Buddhism throughout central Asia. Some of the
ways in which Silk Roads enhanced Buddhism include;
This is evident on the map whereby Buddhism spread up to China through Silk Roads from
India. The book shows that Buddhist monks in Asia could travel with the merchant caravans in
Silk roads to preach the gospel in different regions indicated by the map. Also, the silk routes
provided trade routes for the lucrative Chinese who could exchange their goods such as silk in
different parts with different communities. Therefore, through the Silk Roads trade networks
developed with some extending to the Pacific Ocean then to modern Afghanistan thus spreading
1 R., Murphey, 2016. A history of Asia, 7th edition, University of Washington Press, 78.

Buddhism as indicated in the map.2 Also, the trade networks expanded from Afghanistan to
Tajikistan which is on the borders of China as revealed by the map. Through the Silk Roads
Buddhism spread up to China where a first stop of the roads was established 300 years ago. In
addition, the Silk Roads provided routes for Asian missionaries. Missionaries from India reached
Central Asia through the use of Silk routes. They went beyond all the way to regions such as
Khotan, Kashgar and Yarkand thus spreading Buddhism in the entire parts of Asia.
On another hand some of the reasons why East/Southern Asian embraced Buddhism include;
First, Buddhism was associated with good cultural activities which were appealing to the Asian
in the country.3 For, example the artwork associated with Buddhism cultures catalyzed the spread
2 Tansen, Sen, "Buddhism and the maritime crossings." In Early Global Interconnectivity across
the Indian Ocean World, Volume II. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2019 pp. 34-40.
3 W., Chaiyasit, 2019. The Development of English Skills of English Major Students to
Communicate with Tourists about Buddhism and Culture at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya
University, Chiang Mai Campus. Asia Pacific Journal of Religions and Cultures (AJRC), 2(2),
pp.49-51.

of Buddhism in different regions in Asia. In addition, the Asian missionaries preached by use of
Buddhism concepts along the Silk Roads and this paved ways for the spread of Buddhism in
Asia. For example, the missionaries translated different scriptures in Buddhism thus promoting
the work of Hinayana and the Mahayana in Asia. We have missionaries such as An Shigao who
translated Hinayana Buddhist texts in Asia thus enhancing the spread of Buddhism.4
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Silk Road catalyzed the spread of Buddhism in different ways. The use of the
road as the trade network spread the existence of Buddhism.
Impact on Japan of the spread of culture, religion, technology, and governance from the Korean
peninsula.
4 M.D, Milligan, 2019. The economic power of women in early South Asian Buddhism. The
Indian Economic & Social History Review, 56(1), pp.64-68.

The Korean peninsula was the cultural bridge between Japan and China. This was evident
throughout Asian history and it has impacted Japan in different ways starting from cultural
activities, technology, governance, and religion.
The notable impacts of the peninsula to the Japanese culture is evident through the migration of
the peninsula people to Japan near the end of the Jomon period. This led to the spread of
Buddhism in Japan through the Kingdom of Baekje as illustrated in the map. By 538 AD the
Japanese had acquired cultural activities such as the law, the Chinese writing from the peninsula
people and the use of metallurgy. Japanese started using the writings scriptures and paintings
borrowed from the peninsula people. This led to the spread of cultural activities in Japan.5 On
another, the spread of peninsula people in Japan also transformed the mode of governance in
Japan. The map indicates those regions in Japan which incorporated the governance systems
borrowed from the peninsula people in Japan. The Japanese government established new military
garrisons knows as the Miyake borrowed from the peninsula people in Korea. Also, the
immigrants from Korea participated in amending some legal policies in Japan. This included the
Taika Reforms which were common in different regions of Japan as indicated in the map. There
was also the drafting of the Japans Taiho Code of 703 from the Korean. All the governmental
policies and legal reforms worked in inducing the new level of administration in Japan. On
another hand, Japan acquired technological advancements from the Koreans. Increased use of
metallurgy work in peninsula helped Japan to be industrialized in nature. Also, Japan borrowed
5 Hideki, Takami et al., "Impacts of the 2011 mega‐earthquake and tsunami on abalone Haliotis
discus hannai and sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus populations at Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi,
Japan." Fisheries Oceanography 22, no. 2 (2013): 134.

shipbuilding techniques from Korean. The technicians sent from the Korean Kingdom of Silla to
Japan introduced new techniques of designing ships.Also, there was a small group of carpenters
who were also associated with shipbuilding techniques. This formed a basis for technological
advancements in Japan. In addition, the peninsula also impacted the entire religion of Japan.
Authors have indicated how Tamamushi shrines associated with peninsula immigrants led to the
spread of religious activities in Japan. This led to the spread of religion in Japan as seen in
Kumamoto castle indicated in the map. Also, through Buddhism, religious activities spread up in
Japan.6 There were many nuns from peninsula who preached on regions practices in regions such
as in Kumamoto in Japan. Also, the introduction of Buddhism provided Japan with priests who
propagated the faith in Japan.
Conclusion
6 Bart, Neuts et al., "Market segmentation and their potential economic impacts in an ecotourism
destination: An applied modelling study on Hokkaido, Japan." Tourism Economics 22, no. 4
(2016): 800.

In conclusion, on another hand, the peninsula impacts the spread of culture, religion, technology,
and governance in Japan as discussed above.
Bibliography
Chaiyasit, W., 2019. The Development of English Skills of English Major Students to
Communicate with Tourists about Buddhism and Culture at
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Chiang Mai Campus. Asia Pacific Journal
of Religions and Cultures (AJRC), 2(2), pp.43-52.
Milligan, M.D., 2019. The economic power of women in early South Asian Buddhism. The
Indian Economic & Social History Review, 56(1), pp.53-76.
Murphey, R., 2016. A history of Asia,7th edition ,University of Washington Press.

Neuts, Bart, João Romão, Peter Nijkamp, and Asami Shikida. "Market segmentation and their
potential economic impacts in an ecotourism destination: An applied modelling study on
Hokkaido, Japan." Tourism Economics 22, no. 4 (2016): 793-808.
Sen, Tansen. "Buddhism and the maritime crossings." In Early Global Interconnectivity across
the Indian Ocean World, Volume II, pp. 17-50. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2019.
Takami, Hideki, NAM‐IL WON, and Tomohiko Kawamura. "Impacts of the 2011 mega‐
earthquake and tsunami on abalone Haliotis discus hannai and sea urchin
Strongylocentrotus nudus populations at Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi, Japan." Fisheries
Oceanography 22, no. 2 (2013): 113-120.