Archive 2025-10-09

when did potatoes come to china

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Potatoes came to China in the late 16th century, during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) — around the 1570s to 1590s.

Here’s the background and timeline:

  1. Origin and Global Spread

    • The potato (Solanum tuberosum) originated in the Andes Mountains of South America (modern Peru and Bolivia).

    • After the Spanish conquest of the Americas in the 1500s, potatoes were brought to Europe and then spread along global trade routes.

  2. Arrival in China (Late Ming dynasty)

    • Potatoes reached China through two main routes:

      • Overland route via Central Asia, entering through Xinjiang and Gansu.

      • Maritime route through Southeast Asia, possibly via Portuguese traders who brought them to Fujian or Guangdong ports.

    • Historical sources suggest that potatoes began to be cultivated in China by the end of the 16th century, alongside other New World crops like maize (corn) and sweet potatoes.

  3. 18th–19th Centuries – Qing dynasty (Widespread Adoption)

    • By the Qing dynasty, potatoes had spread widely to northern and western regions such as Sichuan, Yunnan, Shanxi, and Gansu.

    • Because they grew well in poor soils and cold climates, they became a staple crop, especially in mountainous and arid areas.

  4. Modern Times

    • Today, China is the world’s largest producer of potatoes, growing them for food, starch, and export.

    • The crop plays a major role in food security and rural agriculture, particularly in the north and southwest.

when did buddhism come to china

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Buddhism came to China in the 1st century CE, during the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) — making it the earliest of the three major foreign religions (before Christianity and Islam) to take root in China.

Here’s a clear timeline of how it spread and developed:

  1. 1st Century CE – Han Dynasty (Introduction)

    • Buddhism likely entered China around 67 CE, when Emperor Ming of Han is said to have dreamed of a golden figure (believed to be the Buddha).

    • He sent envoys westward, who returned with two Indian monks carrying Buddhist scriptures and statues.

    • The monks settled in Luoyang, where they built the White Horse Temple (Báimǎ Sì, 白马寺) — considered the first Buddhist temple in China.

  2. 2nd–6th Centuries – Early Growth (Three Kingdoms to Northern & Southern Dynasties)

    • Buddhist ideas spread along the Silk Road, entering China through Central Asian kingdoms.

    • Translations of Buddhist scriptures into Chinese began on a large scale.

    • During the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), Buddhism received imperial support and large cave temples were built, such as Yungang and Longmen Grottoes.

  3. 6th–9th Centuries – Tang Dynasty (Golden Age)

    • Buddhism flourished under the Tang dynasty (618–907) and became deeply integrated into Chinese philosophy and art.

    • Major schools like Chan (Zen), Tiantai, and Huayan developed.

    • The monk Xuanzang famously traveled to India (629–645 CE) to collect original scriptures, inspiring the classic novel Journey to the West.

  4. 10th–14th Centuries – Song and Yuan Dynasties (Institutional Stability)

    • Buddhism coexisted with Confucianism and Daoism, influencing literature and philosophy.

    • The Chan (Zen) school became especially influential and later spread to Japan and Korea.

  5. 15th Century Onward – Ming and Qing Dynasties (Cultural Integration)

    • Buddhism became a familiar part of Chinese culture, with monasteries throughout the country.

    • It blended with popular beliefs and folk religion, creating uniquely Chinese traditions.

  6. Modern Period (20th–21st Centuries)

    • Despite historical disruptions, Buddhism remains one of China’s major living religions, with millions of practitioners and a strong revival of interest since the 1980s.