Explore Buddhist pilgrimage across Asia from the most famous Indian sites associated with the Buddha's life to more distant sites in Korea, China and Japan. Read about the most famous Buddhist pilgrims of the past and follow the routes of the two most important early Chinese pilgrims to India.
Buddhist pilgrimage
Pilgrimage formed an important part of Buddhist devotional practice from ancient times. The Rg Veda, a Brahmanical …
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Buddhist pilgrims
A look at some of the best-known Buddhist Pilgrims from China, India and Japan: Atisha, Dogen, Eisai, Ennin, Faxian…
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The Astamahapratiharya: Buddhist pilgrimage sites
Lumbini (25 km E of Kapilavastu, Nepal) is where Queen Maya gave birth to the Buddha. The emperor Ashoka is thought…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: India
Within a short time of the Buddha's death in around 405 BC, lay devotees and members of the ordained community were…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Tibet
The Tibetan monasteries which were the bases of important Buddhist hierarchs such as re-incarnate lamas also became…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Cambodia
The city of Angkor was the home of the Khmer kings who ruled an empire that flourished from the 9th-15th century.…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Japan
According to Nihon Shoki (the Chronicles of Japan), Buddhism was introduced to Japan in 552 AD by Korean monks. Sut…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Korea
Buddhism was introduced to Korea from China in 372 AD and was accepted in each of the three kingdoms of the Korean …
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Laos
Theravada Buddhism first reached Laos during the 7th-8th centuries from the early Thai kingdom of Dvaravati. Howeve…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Nepal
As the birthplace of the historical Buddha, Nepal is one of the main centres of Mahayana Buddhism. Over a long peri…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Sri Lanka
From the 4th century BC until the beginning of the 11th century AD, Anuradhapura (in Sri Lanka) was one of the most…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Thailand
Although Mahayana and Vajrayana systems were well established in Thailand by the 6th century, Theravada Buddhism, i…
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites: The Silk Routes
Bordered by mountain ranges, a network of trade routes (that later became known as 'Silk Routes') encircled the Tak…
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Buddhism in Japan reading list
View a list of titles relating to Buddhism and Buddhist art in Japan
Conservation of a pang khebs
Tibetan applique work has been little researched to date. It warrants study because it uses techniques and materials intrinsic to Tibet which are still relatively inaccessible to the general Western public.
Japan: land and climate
Japan consists of over 1,000 islands situated east of the Asian mainland. The four largest islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku account for 97% of Japan's land mass.
The Radiant Buddha
This standing figure of the Buddha Sakyamuni is one of only a tiny number of Indian metal Buddha images surviving from a formative period in the development of the image of Buddha. Its style was to have a far-reaching influence throughout Asia. The sculpture shows the Buddha standing with his hand raised in a gesture of benevolent reassurance known as abhaya-mudra.
Writing in Korea
Writing in Korea
Donate to the Stained Glass Appeal
We are currently working on an exciting project to conserve and re-install the original stained glass on the landings of the Manfred and Lydia Gorvy Lecture Theatre. We need your help to raise £75,000 to bring these historical features back to their former glory for us all to enjoy.
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Here Comes Everybody: Chris Killip's Irish Photographs
A new collection of photographs taken by Chris Killip on his trips to Ireland
Buy nowEvent - Intercultural Tour - The depiction of the female in Asian religious traditions
Mon 28 May 2012 13:00
FREE TALK: Take a comparative look at the depiction of the female in Buddhist, Jain and Hindu traditions, explore the diverse roles that the women played in their respective societies.
