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.