Spread of Buddhism through Silk Road and Korean Peninsula

History essay
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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.